The Easiest Target

I'll Fix This

Athan's pacing outside of the closet I crawled into in the middle of the night to escape his presence. My face hurts so much. I can't close my mouth, open my left eye, or stop drooling. Crying only makes it worse so I sit here and try to breathe — but even that hurts. My consciousness fades in and out, startled awake by the proximity of the noise he's making.

"Hadeel," Athan whispers. My heart jumps into my throat, plugging a scream I'm grateful didn't come out. I hold my hands out as his shadow falls on me. "Hadeel," he whispers again, his voice breaking.

"No more. Please," I rasp, covering my head with my arms.

"You have to eat. Come eat. You didn't pray, either. It's time to pray."

"O-okay."

He steps away and I crawl out, stumbling to my feet as my head sways. He steadies me by the waist, his touch like a million needles digging into my skin — regardless of how gentle it is. He hurries out before me. I try to make it to the bathroom before he sees me. He brings a covered cup of water with a straw towards me but it slips from his hand, shattering at his feet. I stare at the white powdery substance pooled at the bottom of the cup swish to a stop there and my soul shudders.

My eyes trail up this monster's body until they lock with his. There's an inhuman emptiness in there. I stare at him, my breathing shallow and broken — flickering like it refuses to go out but doesn't know how much it can hold on anymore.

Athan wipes his face, gives me a fake smile that leaves right away. "He said ... you could love anything so I thought ...." He drops his gaze and rubs his eyes. "I'll fix this." He takes his wallet out and puts his credit cards on the counter, telling me the pins to each one. Then he goes to the farthest bathroom and closes the door quietly.

It doesn't help. I still can't breathe. I stand petrified until my knees start quivering. The jaccsuzi roars to life, startling me. I look around frantically, quickly grab a sweater, go to my shoes, put them on, and freeze, my hand on the door handle. The exit. It's right here. My way out.

I finally hear it: nobody wanted me from the start.

Is Athan still suicidal?

I step through the glass on my way to the bathroom. I press my ear but all I hear is the roaring of the jaccsuzi. I knock and call. If he hears me he doesn't reply. I slam my fists until my bruises ache, screaming his name. I yank at the doorknob and it turns.

I push the door open and see nothing but the jacuzzi sitting in it's own pit like an underground pool roaring and sputtering foamy pink water all around it.

I run over and my knees give out when I glimpse his body at the bottom of the waist-high fizzing bathtub of red water.

"ATHAN!"