Page 103 of Broken by my Bully

He kept his promise.

Part of it, anyway.

I drag my hands up my throat, over my face, through my hair.

Heavenly, I’m not. Kai’s right.

I have a one-way ticket to hell.

A tear flashes down my cheek, startling me at how quickly it cools. Guess there’s more rain on the way. But the clouds still don’t look dense enough. Might only be some scattered showers.

The first storm of the season is always a rager.

Me and Kai would huddle together under the overhang by the creek during those storms, our wet bodies shivering against each other. We were always silent because the rain drummed too loud for us to talk. Sometimes, the storm would still be raging when night fell, and we’d have to go home or risk freezing to death.

Kai would hold my hand as we’d pick our way back home, slipping through the puddles and giggling as much as our chattering teeth would allow.

He’d always give my hand a hard squeeze when my trailer cameinto view, and say, “Don’t go to heaven yet!” through a toothy grin, before disappearing into the rain.

Like he knew that’s all I ever wanted. Leaving this mortal body and flying up to heaven like an angel.

I should leave AHC. I mean, what’s the point of sticking around? I’ve made one friend, and she’s already screwed me over. Having to look Kai in the face every time I have a class with Professor Rooke will be torture.

My gaze shifts until I’m looking at my toes. There’s barely two feet between me and the gaping void of Hollow Heights.

Wind tugs at my hair, shoves against my back.

My hands tighten on the barrier, then relax.

How much would it hurt?

I reckon quite a lot.

Maybe it would be worth it.

But only if I didn’t survive.

Another gust pummels me. I can smell moisture in the air, taste it on my tongue.

I’m trying to find the tiniest sliver of hope, but things look pretty fucking dark right now. Kai might have played it off as a joke, but what are the chances there won’t be rumors about me living out of my car?

One secret down, one to go.

I don’t want to be around when that one comes out.

Don’t want to see Kai’s face change from anger to fear. To disgust. Or, even worse…pity.

Another tear flashes down my cheek.

“Fuck!”

The wild wind doesn’t care. It snatches away my frustrated yell and pulls it apart.

I’m so fucking sick of crying.

So sick of lying.

I slip off the barrier, take a tiny, hesitant step forward. Then another. Inching closer until I can look over. Fuck. I’m pretty sure I’llbounce a few times on the cliff face before I reach the bottom of the canyon.