we’re friends or more. I care about nothing but how safe I feel when he’s close by. Jase has become a shelter for my ruined soul and wrecked heart.
“Don’t leave,” I whisper. As long as Jase is with me, the gruesome memories can’t sink their claws into me.
Without Jase, they’ll drag me so far under, there won’t be any way of getting out of the darkness.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Jase says. He brings his hands to my face, and his touch is careful as his eyes drift over me.
With my hand still gripping a fistful of Jase’s shirt and my eyes locked on his face, I drift off to a world filled with jagged edges and dark shadows.
JASE
Mr. West made sure I can stay with Mila because my presence helps to keep her calm.
She hasn’t woken up long enough to tell us what happened. But whenever she regains consciousness, her hand tightens its grip on mine, and her eyes frantically search until they lock on mine. Only then does she relax enough to fall asleep again.
I must’ve nodded off because I’m startled awake when someone places a blanket around my shoulders. My head snaps up, and when I see Mrs. West, I relax.
“I’ve brought you something to eat, Jase,” she whispers.
I can’t stomach anything right now. “I’ll have it later.”
“At least drink something then,” she says hopefully.
I reach for the bottle of water on the bedside table and take a sip, so Mrs. West will stop fretting.
She gives me a weak smile as she sits down on the opposite side of the bed, and her eyes scan over her daughter. I watch as every bruise on Mila’s snowy skin slams a painfilled blow into her mother.
She reaches for Mila’s hair and lovingly combs her fingers through the black strands. “At least you got to Mila before he could…” She swallows hard, and tears spill over her cheeks.
It takes a moment for her words to sink in, and for the first time since this nightmare started, I feel hopeful. “He didn’t rape her?” I ask, a desperate need to know filling me.
Mrs. West shakes her head. “No.” Reaching across Mila, she places her hand on mine and gives it a squeeze.
I’m filled with overwhelming relief that Justin didn’t rape Mila. My eyes scan over her, and the relief quickly evaporates.
Mr. West walks into the room, and coming over to me, he places his hand on my shoulder. “Your parents are in the waiting room. You should go and set their minds at ease.”
My instant reaction is to say no, and my eyes dart back to Mila’s sleeping face. I can’t even bring myself to let go of her hand.
“It will give me some time with Mila. You should actually go home and get some sleep. Mila’s peaceful right now. Go shower and sleep so you can be rested when you come back later.”
After warring with myself for a minute, I answer, “I’ll only shower then come right back.” I lean forward and press a kiss to Mila’s hand, and it feels wrong as I let go of her. I almost give in and grab hold of her again, but instead, I force myself to my feet. Looking at Mr. West, I ask, “Do you have my number?”
He nods as we swap places, and he takes the seat I just vacated. “I’ll call the moment she wakes up.”
“Please.” My eyes dart back to Mila, and they linger on her for a while before I turn and leave the hospital room.
The echo of my steps on the tiled floor is too loud as I pass by the other VIP rooms. The white walls gleam too bright. All my senses feel like they’re stuck in overdrive, and when I walk into the waiting room, and my eyes land on my father, it feels like something snaps inside me. It releases a tidal wave of emotions, and Dad must see it all on my face because he darts forward and wraps me up in a tight embrace. I grab hold of the shirt on his back as my world once again spins out of control.
“God, son,” he breathes. “I’m so sorry.” He pushes me away, and his worried gaze searches over me before he yanks me back to him.
After a moment, he lets go of me so Mom can have her turn. The moment I feel my mother’s arms around me, my throat tightens to the point of cramping, and my eyes begin to burn.
Mom