Taylor.
I bit emy lip and I feel my chest tighten at the thought of Joey again, hooked up to a bunch of machines, life support, but I know I'm just physcing myself out. I stand up and give Samantha her phone back, nodding in thanks before I hurry out of the room. I get into the hallway and I start running to the front door where I see Mr. Smythe and Ashley walking in. I had never seen Ashley look so confused before.
I run to them, my arm now in a cast, and I immediately kneel down as Ashley cries out my name and hugs me. I draw her in close to me with my good arm, and I squeeze her tightly, myhand pressed to the back of her head as she starts to cry.
"It's okay Ashe, shhh, it's alright, Joey's okay, I'm okay." I whisper reassuringly, holding her to my chest.
I look up at Mr. Smythe and I know he's also feeling afraidright now, who wouldn't. I slowly stand, AShe still sniffling anf clutching my hand desperately.
"M-Mr. Smythe,"I say softly, eyes pricking with tears,"I'm sorry, I wasn't in the car crash with Joey.. He.. Please don't be mad with him, he's as confused as any of us."
Ashley then looks up at me and blinks, tears slowing.
"T-Tay, if you weren't in the accident, then why are you all bruised? Tay.." She askes in the most caring voice, it reminded me of our mother.
My throat swells and I know that she knows our father isn't nice, because I never let her see him if he comes, I make her stay at a friends house. Tears well in my eyes and I kneel again and hug her, now for me more than her.
"Tay?" She asks, surprised, but I didn't know what to say.
I can't tell her.
"Tay, we drove past the house and there was a car... It looked like daddy's car." She says softly, remembering the vehicle as she was taken to a riends house before, and I told her whose it was.
I remain dreadfully silent before I pull back and look at her shakily.
"A-Ashe, I want you to go to the play room okay? I ahve to talk with Joey's Daddy, o-okay?" I choke out before Ashley slowly nod and I let her run off to the play area.
I stnad up shakily and look over at Sebastian, knowing he would ask where I got the broken arm, and I know that I won't be able to lie. Not to him. I'm just scared to say anything, because if my Father finds me again, he'll kill me, then abuse Ashe, and I can't let that happen.











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