“Yes.” Her pretty smile was back in place.
“Promise, Blue or I’m going to tickle you to death.”
She backed away from me knowing I’d make good on my promise. Long ago I’d discovered her ticklish spots and no matter how much she tried, she couldn’t outrun me.
“No,” she squealed, turning to run but I caught her and began tickling her until she was choking with laughter. “Shay,” she screamed, pushing at my hands.
I gave her a breather for just a second and she shot to feet. In her attempt to run, she tripped over a bale and fell. Hearing her wince when her knees hit the ground had me shooting to my feet so fast, it made Bullet snort his surprise. I slipped my arm under her knees and back, lifting her onto my lap as I sat on a bale.
“What did you do to your knee?” Instead of answering, she stuck her face in the crook of my neck. “Blue,” I softly scolded.
She leaned back giving me a fake smile. “I tried the over the bars dismount from my bike and fell. It wasn’t as much blood as when I jumped off the skateboard.”
This time, I winced recalling her mimicking the boys who’d stopped their skateboards with the tail end of their board. She’d tripped, ripping her knees, elbow and her forehead. Mom almost killed me when she found me in the bathroom trying to stop the bleeding. Skye’s cries hadn’t helped the situation much.
The recollection of Mom’s distraught face brought tears to my eyes and when I looked down at Skye, her tears fell once more.
“I’ll always be here for you, Blue.” I attempted to coax calm into her once more. Those big blue eyes stared at me with unerring trust before she leaned forward and kissed my cheek. “I’ll never let you bleed again, ever.”
8. When You Love Someone – Brian Adams
Shay – 23 years; Skye11 years
I was heading down the passage toward the kitchen when Skye came running through the front door, screaming, “oh, God! oh God! Oh God!”
Startled, I pivoted sharply, spilling the coke I held, on the linoleum floor. “Blue?” Concern lined my voice as she skidded to an abrupt stop in front of me.
She stared at me with wide-eyed horror, her bottom lip trembling before she pointed a finger at me. “It’s all your fault,” she cried. “You said you’ll never let me bleed again and now I’m going to die. There’s so much blood.”
“What?” I reared back, my confusion escalating before my eyes dropped to her legs, the river of blood streaking her pale skin and the droplets trailing behind her. I understood. “Blue,” I whispered, taking a step closer but she shoved at my hand and zipped past. “Blue. Wait.” But she was already racing up the stairs.
Dad walked out of his bedroom, toweling his hair. “What did you do to your sister now, Shay. I heard her screaming blue murder.”
His choice of words had me shaking my head. “You’re right about murder. Blue thinks she’s bleeding to death.” His towel paused mid-wipe he looked baffled for a moment before realization dawned.
“Shit.”
