Gibs

Each step was a prayer, a desperate plea to a God I wasn't sure

r was ajar. A cold gust of wind hit me, carrying

ate rooftop. And then I s

ouetted against the unforgiving city skyline. Th

ed, my voice teari

llness, now clear and tragically serene. A fai

rms outstretched. "Mother,

"It's okay, my love. It's truly okay now

me? What about us?" My te

ong." A single tear traced a path down her weathered che

en to her!" I pleaded, my heart

le tenderness as she looked at me. "Live, Blake.

!" I was sobbing uncontrollably now, m

ile unwavering. "My beauti

eaned forward. Time stretched, agonizingly

am was ripped

elow was a sickening thud, even from that he

into my flesh. The world spun. The air was su

ng louder. Distant shouts. The

ces flashed before my eye

my heart, replacing the searing pai

ace a mask of false sympathy. He even had the audacity to whisper t

ief had transformed into a chilling numbnes

ing sound pierced the solemn silence. A car rad

ding at the entrance of the cemetery, a hired band playing a j

oud. "I'm so sorry for your loss! Dalton said your m

ed through t

y voice cracking. "Get o

protective arm around her. "Blake, behave y

s locked on Justine. "You de

heer up, Blake. At least you're free now, right? No mo

sound. "She's got a point, Bl

too much. The pain, the bet

she announced, her voice dripping with malice. She pulled

y mother's casket, on her framed photograph, on the wreaths

at Justine, a blur of pure, unadulterated fury

I screamed, shaking her. "You will pay

with rage. He shoved me back, hard. I

oared, shielding Justine with hi

creamed back, my voice raw. "You let her do

s blazing. I saw the blow c

never

ful voice cut through the chaos.