17 years later

Make a plan

Everything happened so fast.

The shooting, the yelling, the running, the chaos.

I didn't know what to do or say or think.

It's like I was frozen.

My boyfriend grabbed me and used me as a shield, bringing me back to reality.

I look behind him with an angry look and for a moment he looks afraid.

I think he forgot who I am.

He forgot who my brother is.

I took the gun out from its holster that I was hiding under my dress and hit him in the head with it.

Mason killed him before I could even blink, running over to me and pushing me behind him.

"Stay down, Camille, I can not lose you too." He tells me, looking at me and I nod.

Looking at my ex laying on the floor I think of my mother and how she wanted us to spend the rest of our lives together.

I failed her again.

The thought angered me so I made myself focus before turning back around and shooting right back at whoever the fucker was who started this.

It's been three weeks since the incident but I'm still thinking about it.

Every time I'm headed in the right direction something happens and I end up failing her again.

Mason tries convincing me I'm not a failure but I know the truth.

Everyone says I need to deal with these emotions but I just put them in the back of my mind and ignore them.

I'll make her proud someday.

There's a knock on my door before Lex walks in and sits down on my bed.

"Hey, how are you feeling?" I ask her softly.

"Better than before but still not great. At least Mason stopped forcing me to be on bed rest." She laughs.

I chuckle with her and shake my head with a smile before going back to drawing.

"What are you drawing?" She asks curiously and I pick up the sketch book, showing it to her.

I'm no artist but sometimes I like to doodle.

"It's good." She tells me and I snort.

"No it's not."

"It is though. A bit of practice and you could be the next Bob Ross." I laugh at her ridiculous words.

"He was a painter." I tell her and she chuckles.

"I know, I just couldn't think of anyone else. Seriously though Cali, you're really good at that." She says, making me smile.

"Thanks."