Red_Roses_and_Black_Dahlias_-_Macy_T

18
FRIGHT
MADDOX
I thought my heart might have stopped.
Too much information hitting home at once, the blood on the sheets, the
tears on Valentina’s cheeks, her cries for help, Sofia’s wide eyes taking in
the scene in shock, her not responding to the sounds of our voices.
Then she collapsed and I thought I might have followed suit if it wasn’t
for that flash of adrenaline shooting up my brain. It made me move forward,
just in time so she didn’t hit her head on the hardwood floor while falling.
I gathered her small body in my arms, my own limbs trembling.
Valentina was freaking out, there were no other words. She brought her
knees to her chest, pushing her face between them and muttering “I’m sorry”
repeatedly. Clearly, I had underestimated this whole situation. I had
underestimated how hard it would be to live with those two and help them
through their trauma. I had no idea what was going on, just that I was way in
over my head.
In the end I did what I always did whenever I felt lost: call my sister.
It helped that she was a gynecologist and that I was pretty sure Valentina
had gotten her first period. I had no idea it could come this early, I thought
we still had some time before we even crossed that bridge, but clearly not.
When Andrea finally came, fifteen minutes after I called her in a panic,
Sofia was still passed out on my bed and Valentina was on hers, covered up
to her neck, looking completely frozen in shock.