Coma, Cruelty, and Caleb's Betrayal

oncern. "Caleb, what's wrong? Oh, Ericka! Are you

argue, too broken to defend myself. What was the po

swer me! You're buying a grave? Are you thr

a hysterical laugh bubbled in my

grabbing my arm and hauling me outside. "You think dyin

ce inches from mine. In

ightlessness, and then a sickening crunch as I hit the stone steps below.

e. It was dark. I was lying in a puddle of wate

d left

nt at an unnatural angle. I tried to push myself up, b

y through the mud and rain, leaving a smeared trail of blood beh

r how I managed to flag down a taxi. The driver looke

hen I finally made i

living room, sitting in

take now?" he asked,

, my leg in a cast, my body tre

spered, my v

" he pressed, standing

f pure despair tracking paths

seemed pleased by my brokenness. He turned and walked up

lavish party on a yacht. It was for Hailie. A

ws, a ghost at the feast. I watched as Hailie, radiant in a designer

de, his arm possessively around he

re my friends. This was the man w

o sea. Fireworks exploded in the sky, brilli

swept along with them. The weather turned suddenly,

into me, and I lost my balance, tumbling ove

plash nearby. Looking up, I saw Hailie i

oice swallowed by the win

faces frantic. Caleb leaped in

a desperate hope. H

d me. He swam past me, h

is arms, pushing her toward the li

w me sinking beneath the wave