Page 23

Caleb stood up and said, “I just wanted to know if Sebastian has come to see me.”
“After he stabbed you, he was scared. He took you to the hospital and then left. He hasn’t been back since. With his back to me, he says, “He just doesn’t care enough.”
Caleb whispers so softly that I almost miss it: “There’s something between you two.”
“You are crazy.” I tried to play it off, but I couldn’t risk it. Caleb would hate me, and so would everyone else.
“Don’t f*****g lie to me, Aria. You think I’m stupid.” Caleb turned to me and pointed his finger down. “I see how he looks at you. I’ve never seen Sebastian care about anyone as much as he does about you, not even your own mother.”
I was going to argue with him, but then the door opened behind him. I got my hopes up like a fool. I thought it was Sebastian, but it turned out to be Maya.
“Oh my god, you’re awake.” Maya ran into my arms, and I hugged her tightly. I was watching Caleb while I hugged her, and he looked angry. He turned back around and ran his hand across his face.
Caleb said, “I’m glad you’re okay,” before opening the door and leaving. I felt bad because I was messing up my mom, Henry, and now Caleb too.
“What got into him?””Maya smiles at me and pulls away.
I started to laugh, and Maya looked at me funny because I was laughing so hard. My laugh got drier and drier, and then it turned into a sob. I started to cry in a big way.
“I’m…a…horrible…person.” I cried. My body shakes, and she looks at me longingly.
“Are you okay, Aria?”” Maya puts her hand on my shoulder and tilts her head.
I felt betrayed by her for siding with her brother, but right now I just need my best friend.
“I’m f-fine.” I started to breathe too fast. I could barely cry because I was having trouble breathing.
“I…I’m okay,” I yelled.
“Aria, shhhh, it’s okay.” She hugs me and rubs my back up and down. “Breathe, Aria,” she whispers.
“I can’t…I can’t.”
She raises my face with her hands to make sure I am looking at her. “You’re having a panic attack,” she says.
“Breathe with me,” she says, and I do what she says.
I did what she said until I started to feel better and my breathing became more even. She had tears in her eyes as she watched me breathe.
“I’m so sorry to see you like this,” she whispers.
“Nobody gets it; I don’t even know why I care about him.”
“He’s a terrible person, and he uses me.” I cried when I heard, “I’m a stupid girl, a stupid girl who just wants to be loved.”
Love is a dangerous game, and I always lose. It’s remarkable how someone can hurt you so deeply and yet your love for them never truly fades. I feel like this pain will never go away; he’s always going to hurt me, but I can’t let go.
I didn’t have to love Henry or marry him. It was forced.
She looked confused; she didn’t know who I was talking about.
“He stabbed me, Maya.” I yelled, tears streaming down my face. I looked up at her, a confused expression on her face, which began to soften. Her eyes lit up when she realised who I was talking about.
“Mr. Maya says, “Devereux stabbed you.”
I felt like a huge brick had been lifted off my shoulder. I wiped my tears with the back of my hand and looked down at my wrapped thigh.
“He hurt me again,” I said softly.
When I was seven, Maya and I promised to always be there for each other. As teenagers, we always had each other’s backs and defended each other. Maya and I have grown apart over the years, but our love for each other has never changed. We could never stay mad at each other, no matter how hard we tried.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”She asked.”
I looked back up at her and said, “That’s why he’s my mom’s fiancé.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? I’m your best friend.” She got up and looked angry.
I took her hand and my eyes started to plead.
“Please don’t be mad,” I said quietly. “I couldn’t handle that either.”
She glared at me for a moment before nodding and sitting back down on the bed. I tightened my grip on her hand.
Maya whispers, “You’ll be fine.” I sniffed and looked down at my hands, which were getting wet with tears.
“I-I think I’m broken,” I said, stuttering.
She lay down next to me and patted the empty space next to her head. I lay down across from her, and she pulled the hospital blanket over us. I snuggled up to the warmth of the blanket. She looked into my green eyes, looking for an answer, but I didn’t have one. My body relaxed as I felt calmer with her around; she has always known how to make me feel better.
“Aria, you’re not broken. She says, “You’re smart, beautiful, kind, and strong. You have an amazing heart.” “You deserve the love you give to others.”
What she said made sense: I love too quickly and give my all when they give me nothing in return. To move on, I have to love myself. Maya gently patted my head to comfort me and started singing the song my mum used to sing to us when we were kids.
My body was completely relaxed and ready for sleep, and my eyes began to close.
Sebastian stabbed me a week ago, and he hasn’t been seen since. I came home two days ago and he wasn’t there. Caleb and Maya have been hanging out, and things have been really awkward between Caleb and me.
Every day I’ve begged Caleb to let me go home. Sebastian told Caleb he couldn’t let me go home or call Henry, and even when he’s not here, he’s still in charge of my life.
Maya yells, “We’re going out tonight!” I put the book I was reading on my lap down.
I tilted my head at her as she went through my closet looking for something to wear.