Page 34 of Broken Pieces

I’m not giving up on her though. Even if she doesn’t want us any more she doesn’t get a choice. She’s ours.

All I’ve had is time and I’ve done nothing but obsess over her. Other than my physio appointments, there’s no schedule to stick to. No more baseball, no more college. Just time to plan out exactly how to get her back.

She thinks she can just walk away and start over, after our entire lives were blown apart? Well, she’s wrong.

This is the first day I’ve been out by myself since the accident. Dad and my brother have done nothing but hover around me, barely giving me space to breathe. I took the first chance I had when they were both busy with work and came all the way here by myself to pay my dear sister a visit.

My legs are finally able to hold me without needing someone else to help me walk, but I know I'm pushing my body too hard as each step has been nothing but exhausting. I was hoping I could sleep on the train ride here, but the nauseating ache in my bones kept me awake the whole time.

From across campus, I watch her as she walks alone, her head down like she’s trying to be invisible.

I still see you, sweetheart.

Now that I have you, I’m not letting you out of my sight ever again.

Some random guy veers into her path cutting her off and she startles before smiling at him. He smiles right back and puts his hand on her arm like he owns her.

That’s when I see he’s not just some stranger. It’shim.

JamesfuckingMikael.

That name has become all too familiar at home and seeing Violet anywhere near him makes me sick to my stomach.

How fucking dare she?

I slam my palm against the trunk of the tree I’m hiding behind and bite back the pain that flares up my arm, but a groan still makes its way out. Their heads turn my way, but neither of them sees me.

I can’t have her see me like this. So goddamn weak. I need to be stronger, so I can make sure she doesn’t get away again.

I can’t leave that up to Mad, he’s not been himself since she left. He’s not angry enough yet. But he will be once he sees this.

My fists are shaking with pain and rage as I reach into my jacket to pull out my pain meds. I clumsily unscrew the cap and tip three into my palm. They never work, yet I still take them in hopes that this time they will. That the pain will vanish and my mind will be clear again. That I won't have to keep feeling so consumed by anger every second of the day.

Ignoring the bitter taste, I swallow them down dry, then take my phone out of my jeans pocket to snap a quick photo of Violet and the snake that she’s still letting touch her.

As soon as I send it to Mad, he’s calling me.

“Why the fuck is she talking to him?” He snaps down the line. “And where the fuck are you? If you tell me you’re at her campus by yourself, I’m going to lose my shit. I’ve been calling you all day, you could have fucking text.”

“You think she knows?”

“How could she not? She’s probably sucking his dick along with any other guy that speaks to her. We knew that’s what would happen,” he scoffs like he doesn’t care, but I know he does.

I know I’ve just sparked that fury in him that’s been lying dormant just under the surface. Soon it’ll be ready to unleash on her.

With enough time I hope he can channel it into claiming her as ours again rather than destroying her completely.

That’s if I don’t ruin her first. It’s like there’s a new beast inside me that’s thrashing under my skin, trying to tear its way out. It's desperate and angry.

I’ve felt it before, but not like this. I've always been able to keep it tamed, but this beast is hungry and there’s no holding it back this time.

“I won’t be home for a while,” I say as the vision of my future starts to become clear in my head.

“Don’t tell me you’re just going to enroll there with her and leave me here? I’m the one that’s spent every day with you, not her.”

“Don’t be stupid. You’re coming here as well. Pack a few bags. The cabin’s not that far out from here.” It's been years since we've even been to the place, I'm not sure if Violet even knows it exists so it's the perfect place to hide out whilst we keep an eye on her.

“You’re serious,” he says, slowly.