Shards of Glass

C h a p t e r 2 9

Chapter 29: It's Worth It For You

"Because saving the people you love isn't stupid. It isn't even a choice."

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"You aren't getting hurt because of me." I replied.

Adrian groans. "I hate to say it but if you teach her, I can help."

Keaton shakes his head. "She has been abused! She doesn't even want to fight! Niall is going to use the people she cares about to manipulate her into fighting!"

"It's no different than what he did to us."

I sit up. "How did you guys even end up fighting for him?"

They both share a glance before looking over at me.

Keaton releases a heavy sigh. "He saw us in the park boxing. He threatened my mom and he threatened Maggie when Adrian and her were dating. He broke up with her hoping Niall would not threaten her but then he threatened Adrians little sister."

My eyes widen. "He did that?" My voice breaks.

Adrian hesitantly nods.

"Let me look at your shoulder." Keaton says walking over to me. "Let's just focus on one thing at a time right now."

He pushed my hair to my right shoulder and moves the ripped open material of my sweatshirt.

"Shit... your incision reopened."

I rub my forehead in frustration. "I will go get the stitching supplies."

Before I can stand up Adrian walks over and holds my right shoulder down. "Camilla. You are not stitching your own shoulder."

I reluctantly look up at Keaton. He shakes his head with amusement. "Only you would do that Cami, only you," he whispers.

"Anna knows how to do stitches-I taught her during the summer. I don't know how much she remembers but it is better than nothing."

Adrian walks across the room. "Where is she?"

I look down at my hands in thought. "She went to talk to Mr. Brooks about the paperwork before Devin dragged me down there."

As on cue, Anna walks in. "Oh thank gosh," I say quietly.

"Camilla? What happened?" She rushes over towards Keaton and I.

I look down. "Mr. Brooks."

Anna gasps. "I was trying to give him the paperwork but was told he was in an important meeting."

I wave a dismissive hand in the air. "Anna, it's okay. Do you still remember how to do stitches?"

She looks at me with horror on her face. "Camilla, I can't do that...It is just going to hurt you."

"Anna, it'll be okay. I will talk you through it."

She shuts her eyes and takes a deep breath to calm herself. "Okay."

"Go get a suture kit."

Anna walks over to the cabinets. She searches for a kit, walks back over.

Keaton stands up and walks over to my right side. Anna takes the seat Keaton was just in.

She opens the kit. "Where do I start?"

"Hand me the needle for numbing," I say as calmly as I can keep myself.

Anna hands it to me and I adjust it and prepare it.

My self-consciousness is telling me to just stab it in my shoulder but considering I don't know the damage to it, I hand the needle back to Anna.

Keaton grabs my right hand. "Deep breaths," he reminds me.

The needle goes into my shoulder. I shut my eyes, feeling the needle pierce through my skin.

"Okay. What do I do next?" Anna asks.

Throughout the next hour, I explain in great detail how to stitch and close the stitch off.

After that I thanked Anna and she went home.

"I am going to get a bandage." Adrian walks to the cabinets to find one.

I lean into Keatons arms. "I don't want you to get hurt."

He wraps an arm around my waist. "Niall is twisted. If I don't do what he wants me to, he will probably go after you next to just prove a point."

I shake my head. "I can handle him."

"Cami, you shouldn't have to. No child should have to feel the need to protect people they care about from their parents."

"It's worth it for you."

"I can't believe I am saying this but I will help you train. We can make a plan, get him arrested."

"It won't work," I whisper.

My eyelids start to droop.

"Get some rest. We can talk about this later, I love you." Keaton whispers, stroking my hair.

I give him a small smile, letting a blanket of darkness take me over.