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Spots fill my vision as I tug uselessly at the bindings, and pain shoots down my wrist. I squeeze my eyes shut and grit my teeth.

Get me out, get me out, get me out!

I know the tugging and internal chanting are useless, but I don’t know what to do. I can’t think logically…and I can’t just lie here doing nothing. My attempt is feeble this time, but I don’t stop testing and pulling the restraints, staying as quiet as I can.

Because one might break. It has to. It just does.

This is not my ending; it’s not my story.

The door opens, and a figure steps through. I’m too far gone in my internal chaos to see who it is.

“Well, hello there, kitten. Good to see you’re awake.”

TWO

BRY

We had all wanted to go knock on her door but thought it might be too overwhelming if she’s still pissed at us. So, after a vote, I went to speak to her.

I walk back into our flat, and my shoulders drop at the expectant faces. It’s hard not to doubt whether it should’ve been me, if hearing my voice through the door is what made her not open it. Max is the charming one out of all of us; he makes her laugh. I hadn’t been the one to vote for myself to go, and I wish I had pushed it more.

The tension in the room is high. Nate’s so tightly wound he’s almost vibrating. Noah’s shoulders sag, and Max is seated with his hands twisted through his curls.

“What did she say?” The words come out harsh through Nate’s gritted teeth.

“Nothing. She didn’t answer the door. I tried a few times but…nothing.” My hand brushes through my hair, and I know the strands must be sticking in different directions by this point.

Max drops his head into his hands, shoving his palms into his eyes, and Noah drops heavily into his chair.

“No,” Nate almost growls, his refusal quiet, but we all hear it. “Something’s happened. She wouldn’t ignore us like this. That’s not my girl. I’m opening that fucking door. Then, if she’s okay, she can kick me out herself.”

He finishes his rant on his feet with a finger pointed at me almost in accusation.

“We’re not breaking down her door. We’re in this position because she asked for space after we ignored and hurt her,” Noah says emphatically.

I think I’m inclined to agree. It was only yesterday she walked out after we hurt her. How much more do we want to push her away?

“I need to know she’s okay. I can’t keep sitting here wondering what the fuck might’ve happened. She can be angry at us all she wants, as long as she’s not hurt.”

“We’re in this together. We can’t just go off making decisions without agreeing.” Noah’s tone comes out exasperated. “Bry, what’s your vote? Give it until tomorrow until we force entry, or do it now?”

My fingers tap along my thigh as I stare down at the space between my feet. It doesn’t feel like anything is the right answer. “I’m not going to break down her door. I don’t want to push her away even more. We really hurt her by going behind her back with her employer.”

The air heats even more as Nate glares daggers at me. His eyes look almost black.

“Well, we all know my vote is for more time. So, your turn, Maxi. What do you think?” Noah’s words have us directing our gaze to him as he stands slowly.

“Tomorrow,” he rasps, eyes squeezing shut before he drops his head, avoiding us all.

Nate’s growl is predatory. “This is bullshit. If I don’t hear from her by tomorrow, I’m breaking that door with or without you.”

Before any of us can respond, he storms past, decking Max in the shoulder on the way out.

I’m unsure we’re doing the right thing, but Nate’s idea of breaking into her home seems extreme. We really messed up by meddling with her job, and if we barge in when she’s requested space, we might lose her completely. And I can’t do that. I’ve spent most of my life having people not love me, walk away, or leave.

Every time, I never had a choice; it was always made for me.

Whether it was my birth father never knowing I’d been conceived, my grandparents not wanting to know me, my birth mother always choosing her addiction first, or my adoptive parents being taken too soon…I never got to say no. To make them stay and pick me.