SA'S

Minutes

minutes later,

already

the swelling around my eyes, the redness that screamed pain and def

own, grabbed my bag, and

ped into the park

s face. My heart clenched. Even from afar, I could see he was tired, but his smi

r the mask of my usual self. But I could feel the weight of my lie, my s

wide. "There's my

into th

s did when I was younger, and spun me sl

ile, the first in w

and gently studying my face. "I left everyt

some rest." I spoke quickly, praying he wouldn't look

d ushered me

during our rare drives, he'd tell me about his meetings

want him to see me broken. So I

not

" he asked, glancing

h. "Just trying

rying not to remember Michael's words. But they echoed anyway, vicious, cold, hum

k away the tear

dam giving way. I couldn't hold it b

ice cracked. "What's

ned to

e road!"

saw it, a monstrous truck barreling toward us

that happened in

inding against metal. The viol

n. A

ness, like the earth d

en bla

ide down, trapped, pain radiatin

asoline, and shattered glass. Somewhere behind the

ned m

Slumped over th

came out hoarse,

mov

and the twisted angle of his arm, he twist

shiel

near, he used his body to cover mine, pulling debris away from my head

hen I un

een the

ke the brunt of the hit himself, placing h

dn't think about himsel

from that unbearable truth. He had protec

ain but at least I saw him smil

eek L

e darkness. Sterile white walls. IV drips. B

ed, but my sou

y voice

ened, and then she broke into a sha

ce, it was something else.

brushing my hair back gently. "I thought I'd

me like a hammer.

ice rose in panic, "Where

peak. She just

o, no

like a wound. "Please, PLEASE TELL ME HE

e told me

ing machines, none of it mattered anymore. My so

I was alive. He

hy didn't I notice sooner how much he

n was, I thought it was actually the hum

was like someone reached into my chest and ripped my h

he bed, the weight of i

AEL'

passed sin

day I thought I was teaching her a lesson. The day

ome to schoo

. "She's just a 10th grader

to swallow. I saw the video, how I stood there,

l I wanted was to see her face, say I was sorry. Not because I deserved fo

ed up: a future, an empire to inherit, a legacy to buil