ᑌᑎᗷᖇOKᗴᑎ

Crossing Lines

We were laughing, my sister and I, with Milo barking along like he understood. Then, the front door crashed open. Silence fell—instant, heavy. I felt my sister's hand grab mine, a silent plea to stay still, to stay silent

But Milo didn't understand that rule. He barked, his small frame standing between us and the figure looming in the doorway. His bark grew louder, braver, like he could somehow stop the storm that had just walked in

"Shut that dog up!" the voice slashed through the room

And then it happened, fast and brutal. Milo's bark ended in a single yelp that ripped through me like a wound. All I saw was red. I don't remember reaching for the knife—I just remember lunging, a rush of pain, anger, desperation blending into one as I tried to make him feel even a fraction of what he had just taken from us

But he was stronger. He turned on me, his hand catching my wrist and twisting until I cried out. And then his fist, once, twice—again, and again. Pain blurred my vision, but I could still hear my sister's scream, her voice pleading, and then my mother's muffled sobs

When he finally let go, I crumpled to the floor, the fight draining out of me. The world around me felt blurry, broken. My cheek pressed against the cold floor, and that's when I felt it-Milo, lying still beside me. His small, lifeless body was there, quiet and unmoving

With shaking hands, I reached out and pulled him close, curling around him, my arms wrapped tightly around his soft, familiar fur. Tears spilled down my cheeks, hot and relentless, as I buried my face against him, wishing he'd just wake up, bark again, protect us one more time

But he didn't

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When I jolted awake, it was Leah's hands on my shoulders, shaking me, her voice urgent and panicked "Isabela, please wake up! Please—come on, open your eyes" Her voice was trembling, and my mind felt thick, disoriented, like I was surfacing from underwater. I blinked, trying to make sense of everything—the dim room, Leah's face was inches from mine, pale as a ghost, her eyes wide and terrified

"Leah?" I mumbled, barely able to get the word out, and in an instant, she was gone from my side, only to return with a glass of water and tissues. Her hands were shaking as she pressed a cool, wet cloth to my face, and that's when I noticed the blood on my hands, on my shirt. It took me a second to realize it was coming from me

"You're bleeding, Isabela. You... I couldn't wake you, and you started—" Her voice trailed off as she dabbed at my skin, her expression fierce yet gentle, a determined softness in her eyes as she worked to clean the blood. She was so close, her breath steadying as she focused entirely on me, carefully wiping away each spot

The panic in her voice cut through the last of my drowsiness, and I stared at her, feeling my chest tighten. I hadn't meant for her to see me like this "I didn't— I don't even remember" I whispered, the shame creeping in as I tried to wipe the blood off myself, brushing her hands away, but she didn't pull back

"Don't do that, let me help" She ran her fingers down my cheek with a light touch, wiping away the last of the blood, her brow still furrowed with worry 

"I'm fine, it's just i have weak capillaries. It's happens to me sometimes" I tried to shrug it off, the urge to distance myself kicking in, but she didn't budge. She held my face in her hands, her thumbs softly brushing over my skin. Seeing her worry about me made my throat tighten. It's just my noise bleeding,what will you do,think when you see other fucked up parts of me Leah...

"You're not fine" she said flatly, cutting off my excuse. Her tone was resolute "You can tell me you're fine all you want, but I'm not buying it. I'm staying right here whether you like it or not"