"Promise me you'll keep going. That no matter where you are, how hard you fall down, you're going to get back up."
I turned to him curiously.
Had he been reading my thoughts? I'd contemplated suicide more than once since the death of my father. My family made me feel so low, so empty, but now, maybe there was hope for me.
"I'm scared," I admitted.
"Scared? You're one of the bravest people I know! You're twelve and heading off on your own."
"I'm scared I won't make it. That I might just one day decide all those things I was told about myself are true. And then what?"
There was a pause, before he said, "You get up."
What?
"Don't be scared. Staying alive for even one more day than you planned is one of the bravest things you can do. Whenever you are feeling low, you're going to get back up." Johnny stood and put his hands on his hips. "And I'm not talking about suicide. I'm talking about everything you're about to experience. If you feel like you can't take another step, find another meal, or have run out of money. You need to get up and face your problems. You're the toughest person I've ever met, Domino. You've got this."
"But I don't know if I do!" I dumped out the rest of my beer and stood. "It's a big world and what if I'm robbed or attacked or starving!"
"I had no idea you were such a scaredy cat. When did this happen?"
"I'm not a—” Was I, or wasn't I? "I don't know. I don't know what I am!"
"You're brave, is what you are. You've got the balls I wish I had." He grinned. Johnny stepped to me, looking me dead in the eyes. "You know what you do when you're scared?"
I shook my head.
"You get up, coward."
Get up, coward.
Get up, coward.
The words echoed in the darkness. I opened my eyes and lifted my head. The sun was almost up, and the park was silent.
"She's over here!" Swayze screamed, and a moment later I was being lifted. I was too hurt to help him and instead lay limp in his arms. The sound of sirens filled the air, and I could hear them coming closer.
"We're alive," I gasped.
"Yes, yes, Little Doll, we're all alive. Me, you, Koi, Fabian. We're alive, and everyone's going to be okay. We're taking you to the hospital, and we're never leaving your side."
"Promise?" I asked, my eyes closing.
"Promise." Koi's voice came from a small distance. "You're stuck with us, Blessing. Get used to it."
The three of us sat together and waited for the emergency vehicles.
"Well, now what do we do?" Koi asked.
Fabian came over to sit with us, bringing a blissfully unaware Georgie with him.
"We rebuild. As far as the police are concerned, Marisol killed everyone," he said flatly. "What about you three? You gonna stick it out, or are you gonna run?"
While his question was directed at the men, I knew he was really asking me. So did Koi and Swayze, because all three of them waited for my answer. It was a good question. Did I takemy newfound fortune and run? Or did I stay and have the life I'd secretly always wanted with Swayze and Koi at the park?
"We're going to stay."
Epilogue- Domino
