The Day Everything Changed.

hat Shatter

g. B

happening. My eyes snapped toward the bed-and there was my father, his body jerking violently as the bullets ripped into his chest. A scream tried to burst

eemed

could hear it in my ears, like a drum beating too fast. My mind shut down, like a machine that had overhea

fog in my head, a single

s man? Who

ace o

er turned

nder the dim bedroom light-a Magnum pistol. I knew exactly what it was. My father had taught me about guns when I was

a step

ove. It was like my feet had been nailed to the floor. Fear had taken

n-t

blink, his fist smashed into my face. Pain exploded behind my eyes, white

o recover

the air out of me. I gasped, choking, my body folding in half as I collapsed again. Tears and blood mixed on the floor. I t

er in the

cker did

ps fading like a bad dream. But the pain didn't leave. It burned

a whi

Weak. B

... Da

her's

ng stomach. Every movement hurt, but his voice pulled me forward. I cra

him, my heart b

ow a punch-now he was pale, gasping, his life leaking away into the bedsheets. Tears blur

ined harder, fought better. Maybe I could have s

se maybes cut dee

ast G

nd of my own racing thoughts. I paced nervously, my mind scre

av

fr

once so strong, trembled as he reached for me. "David, c

think. I j

ike the last embers of a fire. I pulled him into a tight hug, my tears soaking into his s

ht in them, a flicker of the man he used to be. He smiled, w

shaky breath. "Take care of yourself. Become stronger. Don't... don't live like me." His fingers

ast B

ir like a sacred prayer-final, u

in mine, grew stiff. The warmth drained from his s

o

no

is chest, counting under my breath like a desperate prayer. One, two, three, four. I tilt

d, my voice breaking

gasp. No flutter of his e

d with pain. The sound echoed through the room,

here stood my mother, her face twisted in horror. Behind

already knew. A sound escaped her lips-half scream, half sob-before her legs gave out. She collapsed

. You-you always said no one could kill you. You said you w

weaker than the last. "Don't you dare die now.

in a way I had never heard befor

-wake up! L

y cold, the strong man I had known now just... gone. The machines around h

ned by battle-couldn't take it anymore. One of them, a tall man with

. we hav

spoken to a man who could no longer hear her. The guards exchanged glances before finally, with caref

.. the do

their words cold and cli

t hear

mbness

empty at the same time. The room blurred around me. People moved in fl

kept moving, but I was stuck

ng left inside me but a hollow, aching

something ne

a

rp. All-c

l kil

. Every person who had a hand in this-every traitor,

Ride

ovements quick and efficient. They didn't speak as they led me out of the ho

e laughing, vendors shouting-but inside the car, it was a tomb. My mothe

anymore. The grand gates, the perfectly trimmed gardens, the huge mansion

et Burie

r's body was sent back t

e did

ther... he married me in secret. His family never approved. To them, I was j

't need

a. His fortune was a prize-something pe

's Ve

trait, my reflection overla

hands clenched into fists. "I promise

n the air, a vow

cont