For a long time, we laid there together in her bed, simply enjoying one another’s presence. This was all so new to me. Usually I would bang a girl and be on my way as soon as we were finished. I didn’t hang around to cuddle.
Ripley was like no other girl. I saw that clearly now. Some part of me had seen it all along.
Soon I felt her steady breathing against me and knew that she’d fallen asleep. I hoped that in some way my presence here would help her rest without worry. I meant it when I said that I wasn’t going anywhere. I wanted to be here for her. To offer her support any way possible.
Carefully disentangling myself from her so as not to wake her, I left Ripley’s bed to use the washroom. After I finished, I washed my hands, glancing around the room as my curiosity took over.
The cut on her leg had been fresh. She must have done it while in the bathroom. Searching through her things, it didn’t take me long to find the razor blade tucked away in her makeup bag.
I wrapped it in a thick wad of toilet paper before carrying it to the kitchen and burying it in the bottom of the garbage. I made a mental note to take the garbage out with me when I left. Ripley was right in that I didn’t understand her need to self-harm. However, I was determined to help her find a way to stop.
Returning to the bedroom, I climbed back in beside her. Smiling when she reached for me in her sleep. So this was what it felt like to be needed. Huh. I think I could get used to this.
I didn’t realize I’d fallen asleep. Not until several hours later when I woke up to find myself alone in the bed. I momentarily felt disoriented, not sure what time it was. It had to be the middle of the night. Where the hell did Ripley go?
Thinking that maybe she’d gone to the bathroom, I waited for her to return. When she didn’t return after some time, Igot up to go in search of her. Finding my abandoned boxers in the hallway, I slipped them on before approaching the closed bathroom door.
I knocked, calling, “Ripley?”
There was a moment of silence before her voice came muffled through the door. “I’ll be out in a few minutes.”
“What are you doing in there?” Not the kind of question I would usually ask someone in the bathroom. Something told me that she was up to no good.
“What do you think I’m doing? I’m using the bathroom. Go back to bed.” Despite her answer, I wasn’t buying it.
“You have thirty seconds to open the door.” My tone came out harder than intended as worry gripped me.
Ripley sounded panicked when she said, “Please go back to bed. I’ll be right out.”
Nope. Not happening. After trying the door handle and finding it locked, I backed up a step and gave the door a kick. It flew open, bouncing off the wall inside the bathroom. I strode inside to find Ripley sitting on the edge of the tub wearing only a T-shirt, clutching a kitchen knife in one hand. Cutting a thin line into her upper thigh.
“This is the last time,” she said, her voice coming out high and frantic. “I swear.”
“You’re damn right it is. Give me the knife.” Advancing on her, I held out my hand.
She shrank back, having nowhere to go. “You took my razor blade, didn’t you?”
“It doesn’t matter. I think you need to talk to someone about this. You could really hurt yourself. What if you cut too deep? Have you thought of that?” I didn’t mean to sound so aggressive. She was scaring the hell out of me.
“Back off, Auryn,” she shouted, leaping to her feet. “This is none of your business. Get out.”
“Like hell. It needs to be my business. You’re going to seriously hurt yourself. I’m not going to stand back and pretend like this isn’t happening.” I reached to take the knife from her hand. She surprised me by jerking it out of reach, hiding it behind her back.
Ripley’s pupils were strangely dilated. Possibly from fear but most likely from drugs. I knew she couldn’t quit cold turkey, but it didn’t look like she was trying to change her habits.
“Just leave. Please. I know I’m screwed up. Do you think I want to be like this? Having you look at me like that isn’t helping.” She slapped at my hand when I tried to reach around her for the knife.
We engaged in a small scuffle as I tried to take the knife from her and she did her best to keep it from me. Once I grabbed a hold of her arm, she wasn’t able to stop me. She still put up a fight though.
Holding her forearm, I twisted her wrist, hoping she would drop the knife. Instead, she flailed in an effort to dislodge my hold. Falling against me when she lost her balance. Plunging the blade into my abdomen.
It all happened so fast. Within seconds, I had the blade buried inside me. Sharp pain slashing through me along with a rush of adrenaline.
I stumbled back, staring down at the knife protruding from my middle. Ripley let out an ear piercing scream that rang exceptionally loud in the bathroom acoustics. My back hit the opposite wall, and I slowly slid down to the floor as blood spilled from around the blade.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
RIPLEY
