Matthew
I only wanted to scare her a little bit. Maybe frustrate her, push her buttons just enough to see that fire in her eyes—the way she always glares at me when I piss her off.
I never expected to see her like that.
Curled on the cold basement floor, shaking so violently it was like she wasn't even in her own body anymore. Her wide, terrified eyes darting around, seeing things that weren't there. Her frantic hands clawing at her own skin, as if she was trying to peel something away.
She looked like a little girl. Small. Helpless.
The way she whimpered, the way she begged—it made something twist deep inside me, something I don't want to name. I wanted to push her, but not like that. Not to the point where she was gasping for air like she was drowning, like she wasn't even here anymore. And when she latched onto me, trembling, gripping my shirt like I was the only thing keeping her grounded, I—
