Chapter 4
The rain was coming down harder now, like the sky was trying to wash away everything ugly in the world-including me.
I pounded on the door until my fists were raw, screaming for them to let me back in. But nothing. Not even a shadow moving behind the curtains.
Finally, I gave up and started walking down the empty street, soaked to the bone in nothing but my pajamas and slippers. No phone, no wallet, no jacket. Just
me and the cold.
Hours passed. I was so hungry my stomach felt like it was eating itself, and I was pretty sure hypothermia was setting in.
When it got dark, I stopped some random guy and borrowed his phone, my fingers shaking as I dialed Mom’s number.
“Mom, please. It’s dark, I don’t have my phone or money, can I just come home?”
‘Absolutely not. Your father says you can come back when you admit what you did.”
was about to lose it completely. “But what did I do? I told you I’m not pregnant-I’m actually sick!”
Jad grabbed the phone from her. “Emma Mitchell, you’re still lying? Even now? You’re unbelievable!”
Go find whatever asshole knocked you up and make him deal with his mess!”
he line went dead.
handed the phone back to the stranger, feeling like a stray dog that had been kicked one too many times.
he rain kept getting worse. I wrapped my arms around myself and stumbled into some sketchy motel.
dug through my pajama pockets and found maybe forty bucks in crumpled bills and loose change. Enough for one night in this dump.
he room was exactly as disgusting as I’d expected. One twin bed, mold stains on the ceiling, and a bathroom I’d have to share with God knows what kind of
reeps.
ly stomach was growling so loud it echoed off the walls.
counted my remaining cash-barely enough for a piece of bread from the convenience store across the street.
pulled my hood up and kept my head down as I walked through the narrow, dimly lit hallway. A group of drunk guys were being loud and gross, their voices choing off the walls with words that made my skin crawl.
tried to slip past them unnoticed, but one of them-a big guy who reeked of beer and cigarettes-looked me up and down like I was meat.
Hey sweetheart, how much for the night?”
didn’t answer, just kept walking with my heart hammering in my chest.
When I got back to the motel, the hallway was empty.
let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding and fumbled for my room key.
hat’s when someone grabbed me from behind, their hand clamped over my mouth so tight I couldn’t breathe.
le dragged me into the shadows, his voice urgent and disgusting. “I’ll give you a hundred bucks. Come on.”
shook my head frantically, making muffled sounds behind his hand.
‘Don’t play hard to get,” he snarled. “I saw you earlier. What kind of decent girl walks around a place like this in pajamas at night? You’re obviously working.”
I fought as hard as I could, but he was twice my size and I was already weak from being sick. Within seconds, I couldn’t fight anymore.
He dragged me into his room and hit me so hard across the face that stars exploded behind my eyes. Then he grabbed an ashtray and slammed it into my skull.
The world went black.
I don’t know how long I was unconscious. When I came to, pale morning light was filtering through the dirty window. My pajamas were torn, my body was
screaming with pain, and dried blood was crusted around my nose and in my hair.
I crawled off that filthy bed like a zombie and stumbled out of the room on shaking legs.
Across from the motel was a river that had swollen from all the rain. I stood on the edge of the bank, staring at the dark water rushing past.
There was nothing left for me in this world. Nothing worth fighting for.
I didn’t hesitate.
I jumped.
