Page 68 of Watch Her Bleed
“Just hang in there okay? I’m going to call for help.” Matt says and I nod as I close my eyes. “He stabbed her…. No, he’s dead, but she needs an ambulance… It’s not good but she’s conscious… Yeah… Fuck… okay. I’m going to call her parents. They should be able to get here… Okay, just try to get someone here…”
“What’s wrong?” I whisper. I don’t have the energy to talk any louder.
“Bad day in the city. There was a huge wreck on the freeway,” he says.
“No one is coming.”
“I’m getting your parents here. They’ll be able to help. Just stay awake for me, okay?”
“I’m trying,” I say softly. I hear him talking to Mom, but I’m only getting bits and pieces as my hearing fades in and out.
“I don’t know… Enzo stabbed her… I have pressure on it… No, she's awake… I don’t know if she is listening… Aurora… Baby, I need you to talk to me… Cuts all over her… he’s dead… Wreck on Interstate 55… Okay…”
“I’m sorry,” I whisper.
“Don’t apologize, Aurora. You’ve done nothing wrong,” Matt says. I close my eyes again. I’m so tired. “No no no. I need you to stay awake, baby.”
“I’m so tired,” I say.
“I know, baby. Dax will be here in a second. You’re going to be okay,” he says. I can hear it in his voice. He doesn’t believe it. He’s only trying to convince himself so that he can convince me not to give up. It’s like if he manifests my survival, then maybe I might get through this.
A flurry of stars dances across my vision as everything tunnels. I don’t want this to be it. I don’t want this to be the last time he sees me alive. I don’t want to die with my brothers thinking that I blame them for something they never did. I want to learn to love them as brothers and not see a reminder of my trauma. My whole life I have only wanted to be loved and cared for. I’ve always strived for happiness, no matter how much I was in pain. No matter how many times the people who called me their family hurt me, I still found a way to keep going. I was able to talk myself out of suicide countless times by forcing hope into my brain. The hope that someday someone will love me the way I want.
When I met Matt, I never thought that it would trigger a series of events that would lead to my freedom. I never thought I would fall in love with him as fast as I did. Even once I had him, I thought it was a joke; a cruel prank that the universe was playing on me. When he stayed, the pain from years of abuse started to slip away, and I realized it was for real. The reason for my lifetime of agony is still unexplained but at least I can leave this world, knowing that I finally obtained the love that I always desired. I have two loving parents, three amazing brothers, a best friend who would burn the world to the ground for me, and a man who would do anything for me.
“Aurora. Can you hear me?” Dax asks.
“Mmm,” I groan.
“You’re okay. Mom and Dad are here. You hear me?”
“I’m sorry,” I whimper as tears overwhelm me. “Dax, I’m sorry.”
“No. You don’t get to talk like that,” he says. “When you get better we can talk about it. Right now you need to focus on surviving.”
“I don’t wanna die,” I cry.
“You’re not going to die. I promise, Aurora. I promise you’re going to be okay,” he says with a shaky voice.
“Matt,” I say.
“I’m here, baby. I’m right here,” he says. I realize he’s holding my other hand.
“I love you, Mattia,” I cry. “Please know I tried.” My voice is fading as is my consciousness.
“Aurora. Baby, please stay awake. I love you so much. Please stay awake,” he begs.
“I tried to fight,” I say. I don’t know if I actually said it out loud or if it was only internal. Darkness takes over my vision and I feel all the pain slip away as my eyes close.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Mattia
“Fuck,” Dax yells. “Hold pressure. Got it?” I don’t respond. I just do what he says. I don’t realize the reason for his sudden panic until he starts doing chest compressions.
“Dax,” I say, my concern growing.
“Give me a minute, Matt,” he says. The door comes open and her Mom takes one look at us before turning and running outside. Dax stops and breathes into her mouth. He resumes the compressions, keeping a steady pace.
