You’re wrong, I whispered taking another step forward, so small that he didn’t even notice. His eyes were mad, and he couldn’t keep still. I could see it, he was becoming more unstable by the second and I needed to get him away from Lily. Looking down at her, I prayed she’d forgive me for what I was about to say.
You think she loves you, I said, trying to keep my voice steady. She doesn’t. Do you think she thought about you when I fucked her ? She screamed my name over and over again.
No ! You’re lying, he raged, pushing her forward and charging towards me, completely losing it.
I rushed forwards, anything to keep him away from Lily. Before I could catch a breath, he crashed in to me, pushing me up against the wall. His eyes were frantic as he pushed his arm against my throat. Sweat was dripping down me, and for a moment I was scared. But as I looked over his shoulder, my eye’s met Lily’s. Tears were streaming down her face and she started to get up from the couch. I could see what she was going to do. She was going to get in to th middle of it and I couldn’t let that happen. The only thing I could do was keep her safe. That was what I lived for, keeping her safe. Shaking my head at her, I reached up and grabbed hold of Pete’s arm, using everything I had to push him away.
You ruined everything he breathed, struggling to keep his arm pressed against my neck.
I grunted and forced him back, coughing as I caught my breath and rubbed my bruised throat. But I didn’t look up in time. He rushed forward and I felt a white hot pain, like nothing I had ever experienced. With the last bit of strength I had, I charged at him, sending him crashing against one of the kitchen worktops. A muffled cry escaped his lips before he crumpled to the ground in a heap, his knife falling out of his hand. I could feel the sweat dripping down my forehead and the pain was excrutiating, burning.
Lily, I whispered, my breath ragged.
I turned around and there she was, standing right in front of me. My vision was going blurry and I didn’t know why. But I ignored it, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her in close, wincing when it caused a sharp pain. She cried against my shoulder, her body wracking with each sob. I stroked her hair, my tears finally falling as I realised how close I had come to losing her .
I told you not to come for me, she whimpered.
I gently pushed her away, blinking as another pain shot through my body, even more painful than the last. The adrenaline was wearing off. My knees felt weak, and I was struggling to stay upright. Looking down at her, I frowned, confused as I saw her shirt covered in red.
You’re hurt ? I breathed, panic rising as I stared down at her.
Before she could answer, my knees buckled and I collapsed to the floor, not understanding what was going on. Sweat poured down me as I closed my eyes. It’s not me who’s hurt, Lily sobbed above me.
Her hands cupped my face and my eyes flickered open. It was getting harder to breathe, but as I looked in to her grey eyes I smiled. She was safe. My Lily was safe. Oh God no, she cried, pulling my head in to her lap. The tears rolled down her cheeks and fell down on to me. She leant down and pressed her forehead against mine. I closed my eyes as I felt her breath on my skin.
My shirt felt damp, but I didn’t have the energy to see why. I love you, I whispered as I stared up at her, fighting to keep my eyes open.
You promised you wouldn’t leave me, she sobbed, stroking my hair. You promised. Please just stay with me Noah. Everything’s going to be okay. Just keep your eyes open. Don’t you dare leave me. You promised.
Lily’s voice was the last thing I heard, before I closed my eyes and everything faded away.
This can’t be happening, I sobbed, stroking the hair away from Noah’s forehead which was clammy, his warmth gone.
There was no way I could lose him. Coming to my senses, I gently laid his head on the floor and scrambled up as quickly as I could. I ran in to Jen’s room frantically and looked at the floor where my phone was. Fuck ! I screamed, my heart beating rapidly as my eyes caught sight of it, shattered in to pieces. I couldn’t use it.
A muffled cry came from the bed and I glanced up. Jen was trying to sit up, a confused look in her eyes. Running over to her, I held her shoulder and tried to catch my breath. What did he do with your phone Jen ? I cried, despair filling my heart as I thought about Noah lying on the hardwood floor alone. Goddamn it Jen where is it ?
I, I she mumbled, her eyes closing as she tried to focus.
Jen, I shouted, forcing her to look at me. Please tell me, Noah’s been stabbed. I need it now !
He, he took it.
With the tears streaming down my face, I sprinted from the bedroom and back in to the living room. My eyes drifted to Noah as I stopped beside the unconscious form of Pete, slumped on the ground. I could see Noah’s chest rising and falling, but his shirt was soaked red. The bleeding wasn’t stopping. Pure hatred filled my heart as I knelt down beside Pete. I wanted nothing more than to pick up the knife and take his life away, but I knew there wasn’t time. Fear almost paralysed me as I reached out and put my hand in his coat pocket. But there wasn’t anything that was going to stop me from getting that phone.
My hands shook as I quickly tried both pockets and I never took my eyes off him. When my hand closed around Jen’s phone, I cried in relief and pulled it out. Flipping it open, I dialled 911 as I crawled back over to Noah. After an agonizing second, a voice came on the line.
This is the
You have to send an ambulance now, my boyfriend’s been stabbed. He’s bleeding badly, he needs help now ! I screamed, pulling him in to my lap as I rocked back and forward on the floor of the apartment, refusing to let him go.
Calm down Miss. What’s your address ?
17 Market Way, I sobbed Apartment 2A. Please hurry !
Miss an ambulance has been dispatched and is on its’ way. It’ll be with you in five minutes. It’s vital that you tell me…is the perpertrator still in the apartment ?
But I couldn’t answer. The only thing I could do was look at Noah. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead and he was cold to the touch. Please don’t leave me, college boy, I whispered, dropping the phone as the woman’s voice faintly spoke on the other end. You said we’d grow old together. Just open your eyes okay ? Please just open your eyes.
But he didn’t. I stroked his face, too scared to look down at his shirt. It’s white colour wasn’t visible anymore. The only thing I could see was blood, and I couldn’t look. His breath was ragged, and I knew he didn’t have long left. The tears rolled down my face as I kissed the top of his head. I couldn’t lose him. He was the one I was going to marry someday. And as I cried for him, I waited for the ambulance, praying it would reach him in time.
It was the longest wait I had ever had in my life but five minutes later, the ambulance arrived.
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A banging came from the other side of the door, and a loud voice boomed through the hallway. Miss, this is the Police. Open the door.
Wiping my eyes, I scrambed to the door and yanked it open, crying in relief when I saw two Police officers standing there, weapons at the ready. My eyes caught sight of two uniformed Paramedics as they shoved their way past the Police and barged in to the apartment carrying a stretcher.
Please help him, I sobbed, running back over to Noah and dropping to my knees beside him. I was afraid if I left him, he would just slip away. Behind me, the two Police officers handcuffed a still unconscious Pete. But I was barely aware of what was happening. The only thing that I could focus on was Noah. He was my entire life.
He’s losing too much blood, one of the paramedics said quickly, gesturing for the other to help him move Noah on to the stretcher.
What does that mean ? I shouted frantically, crying as they both lifted him carefully. He didn’t make a sound and even I knew that wasn’t a good sign. Please, you have to save him. Goddamn it you save him !
He needs to get to the hospital as soon as possible, we can’t do anything for him here.
I watched helplessly as they both stood up and lifted the stretcher. Reaching out towards him, my fingertips grazed his arm as they took him away. As I stepped forward, ready to follow a hand went on my shoulder. Fear overwhelmed me and I screamed, spinning around to just find one of the Police officers looking at me.
We need to take your statement, he said apologetically, as he loosened the binds around my hands and his partner made his way towards the bedroom where Jen was. It’s protocol.
I don’t give a damn about your protocol, I whispered, throwing the rope to the floor and pushing his hand off my shoulder. I’m going in that ambulance and there’s no way your keeping me from being with him, do you understand ?
But I didn’t wait to hear his answer. I span around and ran out of the apartment as fast as my legs would carry me. A small part of me worried about Jen but I knew she would be okay. My priority was Noah. I couldn’t leave him alone. I had to be there when he woke up because he would wake up, he promised me. Taking the stairs two at a time I burst through the double doors and out on to the sidewalk.
The sun was still shining, and people bustled past. It was just an ordinary day for them. They went about their usual activites with not a care in the world. But there I was, watching two strangers load the love of my life in to the back of an ambulance. People had started to gather around, trying to take pictures. Anger surged through me as I barged past, shouldering them roughly as I fought my way through.
Hey, watch it lady, someone shouted as I shouldered past, knocking the phone she had been using to try and get a picture.
Pure, unadulterated rage coursed through me and I span around, my blood boiling. You’re despicable, I whispered, blinking away the tears as she glared at me. She opened her mouth to say something but I just turned around and ran to the ambulance. I started to step up but the paramedic shook his head slightly.
I’m afraid you can’t, I’m sorry, he muttered, shutting the doors quickly.
I need to go with him, I sobbed, trying to open the doors but he just stepped in front of me and put his hands on my shoulders.
He’s lost a lot of blood, he said. We can’t tell if he’s going to make it to the hospital and if that happens, you can’t be there. You’ll have to follow behind.
As the tears streamed down my face, I just watched as the man disappeared around to the front of the ambulance. He climbed in to the driver’s seat and slammed the door. And less than two seconds later, he pulled out of the space and sped towards the hospital. I quickly climbed on my bike and grabbed the keys from my pocket. My hands trembled as I stuck them in the ignition but I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself down. Finally, they went in the slot and I turned the engine on and pulled out in to the traffic, leaving the crowd behind as numerous people carried on trying to take photos.
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