Page 220 of If By Chance

“Claire, you’re okay now,” he cries.

Why is he crying?

He’s reaching for me.

“You’re going to hurt Mama,” I sob.

His hand is on my shoulder.

He’s going to kill me.

I break.

I scream like Hannah.

Where’s Mama?

There’s another roar in the distance. “Get the fuck away from her.”

Papa jumps back, fear in his eyes.

It’s like mine.

I can’t breathe again.

“Claire?” Jake is here.

He looks dirty, and his skin is red, but he’s alive.

He coughs. It sounds painful.

“Are you hurt?” I ask. He shakes his head. He’s okay. “Where is he?”

I don’t want Hannah to see him again.

He’ll take her away.

Jake bends, casting his eyes to the grass for a moment, but he doesn’t answer.

What did he do?

“Jake?” I plead.

“It was too late.”

Now he can’t hurt Hannah anymore.

That’s good, right?

Jake reaches out to touch me but stops. “Can I touch you, baby?” He’s whispering.

I like that he whispers because everything else is so loud.

I nod.

I’m tired.

Hannah isn’t screaming.