Page 7 of River Wild

My body jolts backward.

My stepdad … he’s just standing there, staring at me. His hand is pressed against his stomach.

He moves his hand away, and there’s a red stain on his white shirt. He stares down at it. “Y-you fucking shot me,” he stutters. He never stutters. “I’m going to fucking kill you!” He lurches forward.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

My stepdad is on the floor now.

There’s blood everywhere.

The gun drops from my hands.

I look up, and Mama is standing in the doorway.

She looks scared. She starts to cry.

“What have you done, River?” she whispers.

I saved us, Mama. I saved us.