Falling

36

TRIGGER WARNING: mention of self harm

Carson Hughes

"I need to talk to you."

Jeff turned away from the stove at the sound of my voice, his eyebrows raised in question.

No matter what Vinny said, I couldn't forget about what I had seen. There was a sick feeling in my stomach, like everything I had ever eaten was trying to leap out, at the thought of the marks Vinny had placed on his body. The image of them never left my head. It lurked, making me keenly aware of the implications of those marks.

Vinny needed help. And my kind words and support could only do so much for him. I was stupid to think otherwise. I should have noticed that his "moods" were not really just that, and his tendency to put himself in dangerous situations was not just a quirk about him. Vinny's struggles were more serious than I had originally thought, and it felt like a punch to the stomach to realize how much he had been suffering and how wrong I had been to brush it off.

That was why I had taken the opportunity to seek out Jeff when Vinny fell asleep beside me on his bed. I couldn't bear to look at him as he slept so peacefully and even if he hated me after today, I knew this was what I had to do.

"What up, Carson?" Jeff asked after I hesitated for a moment.

"It's about Vinny," I said, clearing my throat after my voice cracked. "You have to promise not to freak out."

That caused Jeff to put down the utensil he had in his hand and turn the stove down to low, turning to give me his full attention. I always knew Jeff cared about his children a lot. He just had a weird way of showing it sometimes. But I knew the thought of something being wrong with his son scared him, and I wondered how he didn't notice or do something about the change in Vinny before.

"Why would I freak out?" he asked, bracing his hands on the counter behind him.

"Because it's going to be upsetting."

Jeff's gaze turned to one more serious than I had ever seen on him. His eyes were locked on me like nothing could tear them away. I spoke up as he remained silent, waiting for what I had to say.

"I saw some marks on him," I said, my voice coming out shakier than I intended. "Burns on his legs. That he did to himself."

Jeff was silent for another moment, his expression unchanging. Then, he stood up straighter and walked over to me.

"You should go, Carson," he said in a low tone.

"Jeff—"

"You should go because I'm going to go up there and see what you're talking about and he's going to be angry at both of us."

My breath caught in my throat. I didn't want to leave him here. Even if he was going to scream at me, I would rather him tell me he wanted me to leave than make him feel like I left him.

"I know he's going to be mad but..." I trailed. "I'm staying."

Jeff shook his head at me as he walked by toward the kitchen doorway.

"You did the right thing telling me," he said before he left the room and went toward the stairs.

I stood stuck in place, dreading what would happen next. The house was silent except for the ticking of the kitchen clock and the sound of water boiling on the stove.

I didn't hear Jeff go into Vinny's room, but I heard the explosion after.

***

Vinny Taylor