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“Jules,” he whispers

His finger slides along my cheek and he wipes away my tears I don’t want him to touch me, but I’m too heartbroken and tired to move away I close my eyes and will hi away my tears until I cry myself to sleep

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Luca

I FEEL LIKE A FUCKING creepy stalker, but it’s the only way I’ up by my toes, lashed repeatedly, then have bleach poured on the open wounds Fuckin’ crazy, right? What I’ure it fits

Those thoughts don’t stop h I waited teeks beforethe shit out of the bag Teeks of running until I had fucking blisters Teeks of self-loathing that did not one bit of good

Those teeks were absolute torture of the worst kind, and I couldn’t take it anymore

So, here I a the halls of General

I co a deep breath, I look around the doorfraht over her bed see she’s asleep, just as I hoped That’s why I waited until ht to coain, because last tiood reason If it wasn’t for the fact that I don’t want one of the nurses to see ht staff was so lax God only knohat asshole could come in here and hurt any of the patients My lip curls when I luory

I stop only a few feet inside the doorway and leanto keep my distance in case she wakes up, so I can slip out of the room before she sees me

After avoiding my parents for a week, Mom finally pinned me down at home Her eyes were sad when she looked at me, and it tore my heart to shreds Shame eats at me anytime I look at her, because I know Dad told her what Theo said I did I don’t see how she could look at usted with myself How in the hell could I do that to Theo? Even more important, how in the hell could I hurt Jules? My teainst people, but they were always deserving of my wrath It was to protect faer has never controlled me I’ve always controlled it

Through Mom, I learned that Jules doesn’t re her Mo I don’t knohy she told ardless, I sure as fuck don’t deserve any updates, but I’ave it

Even though Jules may not reh to warn her away frolad her subconscious told her I was a danger After what I did, she should be afraid Not that I would hurt her now, even the thought brings bile to my throat and makes me want to ram my head into a brick wall Even so, if I was capable of it before, there’s no reason for her to think I wouldn’t do it again

Moood Better than the doctors expected after her being in a co home soon To Theo’s home, that is

I stiffen when Julesup, but when sheI have to forceto her I wish so fucking much I could rub out the wrinkle I know is between her eyes Or whisper soothing words Or crawl onto that narrow bed and hold her in my arms