Page 76 of Breaking Matt

"It doesn't look like anything is broken." I nodded absently, trusting him. It hurt but once the adrenaline wore off it would be much worse.

"We might need a doctor to check her over," Matthew said to my mother as he began to check for other injuries.

I didn't want to be checked by anyone else. I was tired and sore.

One breath in. My breathing halted when a tidal wave of emotion suddenly got caught in my throat. My eyes held Matthew's as they began to water and a sob tore from me. I was coming apart at the seams and there was no way to stop it.

He put his arms around me and hugged me as I began to sob, unable to stop the tears.

"Here," my mother said as she handed Matthew a glass filled with liquid.

Matthew held me for a few more minutes before my sobbing eased. "Drink," he instructed when he pulled away. I took a gulp and spluttered.

"Easy there," he soothed as he gently patted my back.

I wiped my mouth with my uninjured arm.

"Sarah," my mother said.

"Mom." I swallowed, trying to keep myself from crying again.

"You're okay," she soothed, gently tucking my hair behind my ear.

I winced when I raised my hand to smooth my messy hair. I didn't feel okay. Closing my eyes, I was forced to relive in flashes of memories another attempt on my life.

"How long before the doctor gets here?" Matthew asked my mother.

"He should be here any minute."

I wasn't okay. Not by a long shot. My body began to tremble so badly I messed some of the sugar water as I gulped some more down.

"Slowly," Matthew instructed.

More images flashed through my mind. I closed my eyes tightly, trying to suppress them, not ready to experience it all again. Someone had tried to kill me. The sound of metal against metal and the glass shattering reminded me they had nearly succeeded. The memory of the driver taking a shot at me echoed in my ears.

I stood up and pushed Matthew's hand away.

"No," I mumbled, backing up against the wall.

Matthew stood up and walked to me while my mom watched with concern from behind him.

"You're safe," he said in a calm voice.

I closed my eyes and concentrated on the sound of his voice, needing it to soothe me like nothing else could.

His hand touched my arm.

I kept my eyes closed. "I'm not...safe."

"You are."

His hand found mine. I hadn't realized how much I had missed his touch until his fingers threaded through mine.

"Sarah."

I opened my eyes to look up at him.

"I will keep you safe." They weren't just words. It was written in his eyes. He meant every word.