Chapter 7

February 1

I wander the streets alone with my shattered heart in my hands as I block out the haunting images of Mom's lifeless body drowning in her own blood with a vacant look in her eyes that stared right up at me as I cradled her into my arms. I failed her; I did not protect her.

The alcohol burns my throat and sends a wave of calmness through my body. The white powder I breathe in gives me a euphoric rush I crave like a starving man looking for his next meal.

No amount of alcohol or drug I force into my body will make me forget the moment I found Dad sitting in his recliner with a bottle of Miller Lite in one hand and a bloody knife in the other while Mom bled to death a few feet away from him.

He took her life without a second thought of who she would leave behind. I reached for the gun from my back and moved gradually until I loomed over him, pointing the barrel of the gun between his eyes. I expected to see a shit-eating grin on his face. Instead, I saw pain and

regret as tears fell from his eyes. I glanced around the room, noticing pictures of me and Sade from when we were kids. A time in our lives when we were happy and free of pain.

I turned back to face him, itching to end his life.

He nodded in understanding and closed his eyes.

I pulled the trigger.