Emergency Services

"So, this is the rest of the house," Damon chuckles, rubbing the back of his neck.

"I know you've only really seen the living room till now." He's already shown me the kitchen and laundry room, now it's just the bedroom with the ensuite. Like the rest of the house, it's pretty plain. His double bed is enormous compared to my single mattress. And with all the blue and white sheets, blankets, duvets, and pillows, it looks like a dream to lay on. It looks so soft and inviting. The rest of the room is mostly clean and tidy. Apart from a shirt or two lying about and a tallboy in the corner of the room, that's all there is. Oh, and a weirdly old and marked up looking trunk by the foot of the bed, half-hidden by the blankets falling off his bed. I can't help but think that with a few small changes to the room, it'd look pretty cute.

He shrugs, grabbing a clean towel from the bottom drawer of his dresser.

"There's a bath." He chuckles almost awkwardly and stops in front of me, continuing, "My mom gave me some bath salts and oils and stuff, apparently they help with stress and sleep and yadda yadda. I don't think I'll ever use them so you're welcome to. Or have a shower, whichever you prefer. You can like, have a look. If you want."

Having felt my phone buzz a few times since he picked me up from work, I nod. He lets me go in there alone and in there, I check my phone. I close the door most of the way and sit on the closed toilet lid, tears welling as I read the texts from Jake.

Why aren't you fucking home?

Where the fuck are you whore?

You better be fucking killing yourself so I don't fucking have to when you waltz back in here like you own the fucking place I know your with that asshole Damon When you get home I'll fuck up your tits like dad fucked your pvssy!

Answer the fucking phone!

Get your ass home before I track you down and beat the shit out of you worthless cow you really think that fucker wants you?!

Your gonna wish you were dead when I'm done with you!

I can't go back there. Not anytime soon. I need to end things before he does it for me. And . . . And doing it here is my only chance. It's fine. It'll be fine. Damon will get over it. I'll do it in a way where there's no way he'll try and revive me, so he doesn't even have to touch me. I'll even call the police, so he doesn't have to. It'll be over in a flash.

"You okay, Aya?"

I quickly wipe away my tears and call out, "Uh, yeah. Could I just have one now, I'm really tired."

There's a scuff before he responds, "Oh, uh, yeah. I'll leave the towel on the bed. I'll stay in the living room too, so you can change in the bedroom if you want."

He's such an angel. He'd be my angel if mom had never died. If I had any other life. I just want it one more time. To feel his breath on my neck, to take in his smell as we kiss. Before I can chicken out, I spring to my feet and rush out to the bedroom. Damon's face holds only surprise as I stop in front of him, barely a few inches away. All my confidence flies out the open bedroom window before I can kiss him.

Smiling, his hand reaches up to my face, cupping my cheek as he touches his nose to mine.

"What is it you wanted, beautiful?" A giggle escapes me. That's how he makes me feel. Beautiful. He makes me all giddy and giggly. He makes me feel like a beautiful girl again, like the only girl in the world. He makes me safe and warm. I can't be anything but happy around him.

"You think I'm beautiful? Really?"

His smile grows, his breath minty fresh, "You're the most beautiful girl I've ever seen. I knew it the first day I met you and I know it now."

Getting a spike of courage, I lean in even closer but then stop. He finishes it for me. He leans in that little bit more and captures my lips in his. So softly, so gently. My body feels like it sparks to life again with just that little touch. That ancient magic that has been passed down my bloodline for hundreds of years dances in my stomach. My heart flutters, my mind goes blank for just a second. One wonderful second. I pull away as quickly as the kiss started and he opens his eyes to look at me. Before I can let myself do anything else, before I can lead him on anymore, I return to the bathroom. I lock the door and open the cabinet above the sink, on the hunt for anything harmful. Anything. I find an unopened packet of . . . testosterone tablets. Shaking my head, I throw it aside and continue looking. When I find a packet of razor blades I place them on the lip of the bathtub.

Eventually, at the very back of the cabinet, I find a half-empty bottle of oxycodone. I turn the shower and bath faucets on, keeping them as cold as they can be, hoping the cold will make the process faster. I don't bother undressing. I sit in the bath, directly under the showerhead. I use the water coming from the showerhead to help me swallow the rest of the pills in the bottle. Knowing it may take a little while for them to kick in, I open the packet of razors and take one out, staring at it in my hands. If I cut deep enough fast enough, it won't be painless but it'll definitely be quick. I place it back down and instead pick up the prettiest, pinkest bath bomb I can see from the small table by the bath. Dropping it in the tub, I lean my head back, bringing my phone up to my face. I dial 911.

"911, what's the nature of your emergency?"

A sob comes out of me, remembering that I'll never see my little girl again, and she'll never see me. She'll grow up with Amber and Don. Her mother gone and her father a monster not worth knowing.

"Hello? Ma'am?"

"I . . I'm sorry. It's not an emergency. I just need to . . . he can't be the one to find me."

"Ma'am, are you in danger?"

Another sob forces out of me as the bathroom light begins to hurt my eyes, "I took some pills. I don't want Damon to see me so I need the police to come and get me, so he doesn't have to find me."

"Miss, what's your name and address, I can send help. What pills did you take? How long ago?"

I shake my head, "I don't want help. I just don't want him to be the one to find me. I need to leave a message, okay? Just please, please. Let me leave a message and then I'll tell you my address." She's silent for a second before I hear her take a breath and finally agree with me. I sniff, snot beginning to run as I continue crying.

"I have a daughter. She's four. I need someone to tell her I love her, so so much. That I'll always watch over her. I'll always be right there, even when she doesn't want me. Her name is Lily, and she's gonna grow up to be the greatest dreamer there will ever be." The woman sniffs on her side of the line as I pause.

"Amber. I gave Lily to Amber for this. My last wish is for Lily to stay with Amber. She works at Donny's Girls under the name Ember. Tell her . ." The ceiling begins shifting in and out of focus, my head spinning.

"Tell her I'm sorry and . . and I'll always be there for her too. And I'm so grateful to her for everything she's done and will do for Lily. Let her know I'm going to be with sweet Cassian. And my mom, and my dad. I'm gonna be happy now."

The woman sniffs harder, "Miss, where are you? They wouldn't want this for you."

Crying, I continue, "Damon . . . Damon Cooper. Tell Damon . . . Tell him I'm sorry. I missed him every day we were apart, and I should never have pushed him away. I'm going to miss him still. Tell him to leave town, to make something of himself, to make friends for once, and to have . . . to have an amazing life without me."

"Miss . . ."

"That's it. Just make sure they know that, please. That's all I want. I'm at the little house with the brown grass on Cliff Road." I drop my phone on the table, amongst the bath bombs. As the pills start to fully kick in, I pick up the razor blade again. I push it into my wrist, watching blood rise and pool. Inhaling deeply a few times, I give myself a moment of peace before the pain. Then I slice my arm open.