Cricket: Ember's Story

The Aftermath

It takes four more days for Adam to come out of meth psychosis enough to hold a normal conversation, and when he does, Jesse and I don't hold back telling him just how awful the week has been for the rest of us. I'm sure he'd get an earful from Hex and Gus too, but they're both out.

"You thought we were all demons!" I yell.

"You tried to fucking stab me!" Jesse shouts, looking every bit as pissed as he was the other night.

Adam looks so confused. "I remember seeing a demon but not trying to stab anybody! I wouldn't do that! You know I wouldn't!"

"Well you did. You got a real fuckin' problem you know that? Need to be on that Intervention show or somethin' with all those cracked out people. It's WAY past just being fun for you like it is for Gus and Hex. You got a real fuckin' issue with it," Jesse says, and I actually agree with him completely.

"You're one to talk! You can't even make it two hours without smack!" Adam snaps back.

Jesse doesn't take the bait. "Look, I know I'm a fuckin' junkie. But I can admit to that a thousand percent and own up to it. You can't, and that's why you have a real problem."

"Oh, and you hurt Hex," I say.

Adam looks at me, and his face goes white. "I didn't! I would never put a hand on her! You're lying!"

"Am I lying about this?" I hold up the ring that Hex threw across the room that night. "If I'm lying, why is it off her finger? You made her bleed! If she's willing to speak to you, ask her when she gets back home."

Adam takes the ring from me and just stares at it blankly. I can tell he's letting it sink in, just how far gone he really was. "I was trying to get rid of the demon. I thought I was doing an exorcism on her. I would never hurt her, you know that, Ember."

"Maybe you wouldn't, but whoever you turn into when you smoke did," I say.

——————

When Hex comes back, Adam drops to his knees and wraps his arms around her legs, sobbing.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!" he cries.

Hex rolls her eyes and shakes him off. "I don't care that you're sorry."

"Please! Baby, I am so fucking sorry! Nothing like that will ever happen again!"

"You're damn right about that," she says, walking the rest of the way into the house.

Adam follows after her, still on his knees. "I know I've been using too much. I know I said I'd stop. I just haven't. I let you down. I let you both down! Please forgive me!"

"You had your chance. You showed me what's most important to you, and it wasn't me or the baby," Hex said, for the first time admitting her pregnancy out loud in front of everyone.

"No! That's not true! I love you so goddamn much you have no idea! Let me make it up to you, please!" Adam begs.

"This is not that kind of problem, Adam. You can't just make it up to me. What you can do is leave me alone," Hex says, and she turns and walks right back out the door. I don't know where she's going, but I'm betting she won't be back until it's dark outside.

Over the next few days, Adam keeps on pleading with Hex for another chance. I don't expect her to give in, but even I'm starting to feel sorry for the guy. He threw out all his pipes and drug stash the day I told him he hurt Hex, and I haven't seen him touch meth or anything else since then. He really is trying, and it's sad to see.