Page 149 of The Addict

“To me, to everyone.”

I clutched my heart. My pain generated from that spot, throbbing and acute. Suddenly, I felt five again. It was a sweet memory. One of the only few I had. I was running to David before the fear was placed in my soul. I remembered my father swinging me over his shoulder and carrying me home. We were both so happy.

“Daddy!”

“D–” I suffocated on the word. It took great exertion to get it out. I gulped, desperate for air. “Dad, pl–”

David glanced at his watch. “The party is starting,” he snarled. “Don’t mess it up.”

He turned without another word and sauntered out.

“DAD!” I shouted, lunging for the door. “I’m sorry!”

SLAM.

I skidded to a halt before my face came in contact with it. The door’s closure marked the conclusion of the conversation, the last word, and declaration of my insolence. I sunk to my knees, my whole body trembled.

I pressed my face to the cold floor, crying more deeply than I ever had. I wished my mother was there, hugging me close to her body, pretending that everything would still be fine.

Lying so good, like she always had.

Right now, I had nothing.

I am nothing.

My gaze cut to the side. Underneath my bed, I had a little silver box.

I ripped the metal container from its dormant position, knocking the top of it to the ground. My fingers were shaking as I flicked it open and gently placed a single bullet into the chamber. I hastily pressed the barrel to my head. My vision was blurry and impaired, my mind rushing to the possibilities of death, what it would be, how it would be.

Maybe it would be peaceful, compared to this. My finger found the trigger.

What’s the fucking point? It’s time to put an end to this pain.

I sucked in my last breath.

End this suffering. This poor excuse of an existence.

My closed my eyes. “God, help me.”

My cell phone buzzed from deep down in my pocket. I jumped, the gun falling from my hands and clattering to the floor.

I shook.

I almost did it.

For a moment, I just sat there and listened to the vibrating of my phone. I looked down at the perfectly real gun that would have ended my life. Three more long breaths later, I shakily placed it back inside the cursed box, sliding it back underneath my bed where I knew it would be if I needed it.

I answered my cell.

“Hello?”

“Hi, Noah!”

I pressed the phone closer to my ear.

“W-Who…is this?”

And then the golden resonance was clear.