Page 47 (1/2)

His name flashes acrosscall Before I can stop reen button

“Hello?”

Ayou to answer” He sounds pitiful, his voice downtrodden and full of shame

“I wasn’t expecting you to leave uess shit happens, Ryan Why are you holding a fucking gun to your head? What is wrong with you?” My voice is full of anger I didn’t expect the anger to hit me so suddenly and so hard But the h the receiver, all I felt was raw agony from his actions

“Because I can’t live without you, River! How many times do I have to say that? Look, I am so sorry, River I miss you so much, and I’m so ashaht time”

I sht time?”

He trips over his words “What do you mean?”

“You said it wasn’t the right tiirlfriend?”

“There is no right ti defensive Ah, so he doesn’t like to be called out on hitting ht I ran from my problems

“Then what did you mean?”

“I ry you put yourself in that situation I’ve told you to stop going there It’s dangerous and this is what happens Can you blaerous house every month? Where you were raped and abused? This was bound to happen And you lied toabout who hurt you You’re protecting them”

“I’ everyone else You’re right, there are dangerous people in Shallow Hill And ht up with me, but I’m not about to let them haunt anyone else’s life”

“My dad is a lawyer, I’ues

I shakeinside me He doesn’t understand He won’t ever understand He’s a privileged boy that greith loving parents in a beautiful house He has always gotten his way

But he won’t get his way this time