Country Girl

Don't do it

I run over to Felisha and pull the knife out of her hands.

"Felisha! What are you doing?"

She looks up at me and starts to cry even more. As she starts to get up, I put my hand on her shoulder and softly push her back onto the couch and sit beside her. Travis goes into the kitchen to make some food, so he doesn't even see Felisha.

"Felisha? Please talk to me."

"I can't."

"Why not? You can trust me."

I place my hand on Felisha's back and start to rub it to comfort her.

"It's just......I'm sorry I can't control my emotions and I turn to this."

Felisha flips her left arm over and her wrist is covered up about twelve inches of cuts. Some are new and some are just scars. I look over at Felisha with tears in my eyes and I put my hand on her thigh and try telling her it's okay.

"No Haley it's not okay! I need help."

"I'll help you Felisha."

"You'd really do that for me?"

"Yeah what do you need me to do?"

"Just tell me to stop when you see me like this okay?"

"But I'm not with you all the time."

"I know, and you'll just have to trust I won't do it any other time. This is my biggest secret and I've never told a soul, please keep it to yourself Haley."

"I will Felisha."

Felisha and I get up and she goes upstairs to her room and I go into the kitchen to find Travis cooking macaroni and cheese. I slide on the kitchen tile in my socks and when I reach the counter, I jump up and sit on it.

"What are you making Travis?"

"I'm making some macaroni and cheese for my little cutie."

"Awwww, you're too sweet. I said a snack, not a meal!"

"If you think this is a meal, you haven't seen me eat honey."

"Just save some for me! I'm starving."

"Don't worry sunshine, I will. Why did Felisha have that knife?"

"She was just a little depressed but she's alright now."

"That's good. Haley?"

"Yes Travis?"

"I'm glad you're here."

"I'm glad I came."

What?! Ugh no I'm not glad I came...

Travis comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist and rests his hands on my tummy and puts them in the pocket of my sweatshirt. I smile to myself and lean my head back into his chest. He bends down and rests his chin on my shoulder.

"Travis! The macaroni is gonna burn!"

"Oh shit!"

The macaroni is boiling over and the water is all over the stove. Travis turns the burner off and wipes up the mess.

"Nice going Travis!"

"Hey, it was your fault."

"How was it my fault?"

"You were distracting me."

"How?"

"Because you're beautiful and I couldn't resist ya."

Oh my God! Am I in heaven? I think I am, if not it's pretty darn close. Grace comes in the kitchen and sees Travis mopping up water on the stove.

"Holy Batman! What happened in here?"

"Sorry Grace, I was distracted by Haley's beauty and my macaroni cooked over."

"Okay, I don't care as long as you get it all cleaned up. Why didn't you have Alanna cook it for you guys?"

"I think she's in the barn."

"Oh okay, Haley have you seen Felisha?"

"Yeah, she went up to her room."

"Okay, thank you."

Grace runs upstairs to check on Felisha and I hear a blood curdling scream.

"Haley!!!!!! Come quick! Travis stay down there and call 911!"

I run upstairs and start to get really worried. I reach the top of the stairs and run straight down the long hallway until I reach Felisha's room.

"What is it Grace?"

"Come in here please."

I walk over to Grace and see Felisha lying on the ground with blood running down her arm and it is also seeping through her shirt. I look beside her hands and see the knife that I took away from her earlier, it was definitely self harm.

"Grace, go downstairs I know how to handle this."

"Are you sure honey?"

"I'm positive."

Grace goes downstairs and I move closer to Felisha and start to cry. I take the knife and set it off to the side. I flip her arm over and notice that all the scars were split open except this time they were about ten times deeper than the first ones. I look down at her stomach and pull up her shirt and notice that her stomach has all fresh cuts, except they are bigger than the ones on her wrist. Longer, but not so deep. I tap her on the shoulder and look into her eyes.

"Felisha. Can you hear me? Felisha."

No answer. I turn my head sideways and put my cheek above her mouth, she's breathing. Then I try for a response again, but she doesn't respond. Just as I'm about ready to get Grace, she comes rushing upstairs with four paramedics. They all rush into Felisha's room and pick her up and put her on the stretcher.