Page 37 of Break Me

“I’m sickened by a lot in this world, Knox. But not love.”

Knox continues to yell and hit things while my whole body shakes. I press my forehead to my knees and try to breathe, but it feels like there’s no air left in the world.

My phone buzzes in my hand. I didn’t even realize I was holding it.

One notification.

One name.

Samuel.

My heart stutters so hard it hurts as I open the message.

Samuel: I’m sorry. I didn’t want you to see that. I didn’t want any of this to go down that way.

A sob tears out of me. I clamp my hand over my mouth to muffle it.

Another message comes through immediately.

Samuel: Sweetheart, I never wanted to hurt you or cause problems with your family. If I could’ve taken those hits without you seeing a damn thing, I would’ve.

My fingers tremble as I type back.

Me: You don’t have to apologize. I don’t care how it happened. I just need to know you’re okay. How bad did he hurt you?

Three dots blink.

Stop.

Blink again.

Samuel: I’m fine.

He’s lying. I know it instantly.

The way he stood.

The way he breathed.

The way his ribs didn’t move quite right.

My thumbs fly across the screen.

Me: Samuel, tell me the truth.

Samuel: Don’t worry about me.

Which is the same thing as, I’m hurting, but I don’t want you to know.

I don’t respond. I can’t. If I do, he’ll know what I’m planning. Instead, I shove my phone in my pocket, wipe my face with the backs of my hands, and cross the room to my window.

The house is still vibrating with my father and brother’s argument, so I’m confident that no one will hear me leave.

Sliding the window up, I climb onto the sloped roof and drop down into the yard as quietly as I can.

My heart’s still breaking.

My family’s falling apart.