And now, I wish I’d listened. I can’t stop thinking about how she said it. How certain she sounded, like she’d been waiting for the moment to finally be right.

Every time I close my eyes, I feel teeth sinking into my neck, the ripping agonizing pain of skin ripping beneath piercing teeth. I remember how the blood spilled, how I clutched at his shirt, and trembled in his hold.

Pain, so much pain.

The way the trees blurred as I hit the ground. My ankle giving out. Rocks and branches ...