After the Last Tear: Rising from the Ashes of a Broken Marriage By Cassila K

Chapter 38

For a moment, my ears seemed to lose all function—everything around me fell into deafening silence.

It felt as if a scalding giant hand had slammed me into the ground.

I coughed up a mouthful of blood, my internal organs seemingly displaced by the

impact.

Thick smoke billowed into the air, obscuring everything in sight.

Something warm trickled down my face.

I reached up to touch it, and my palm came away smeared with blood.

Joseph had been thrown by the explosion, lying sprawled not far from me.

I tried to get up, but my legs refused to support me.

With trembling hands, I crawled toward him, my knees scraping against the rough ground.

Reaching him, I checked for breath, praying desperately.

Thankfully, he was still alive.

Gunshots echoed again, faint but approaching fast.

Fighting against panic, I hoisted Joseph onto my back, staggering to my feet.

I stumbled forward, but armed men were everywhere, their shadows looming menacingly.

Forced to change course, I turned and plunged deeper into the forest.

I had no idea how long I ran. My legs gradually numbed until I could no longer feel them.

Finally, my strength gave out, and I collapsed to the ground.

was then that

weakly, attempting to rise but finding himself unable

voice was

"Zoey... leave me. Go!"

I

We leave together!

my ankle, his grip weak but

can't carry us both out of

down, crying so hard

promised each other!

I will never

at his lips, only to be interrupted by a coughing fit that brought more

"I'm not lying...

"Liars... are puppies..."

to stand, dragging

wiped my face, the tears kept

my hand, his gaze steady but

now... you won't let me

fiercely, tears

for me! I'll come back for

"You'll be okay-I promise!"

faintly again and waved me

"Alright."

before I could take more than a

powerful force slammed into me, knocking

across my shoulder, leaving

I'd been shot.

I turned my head, only to see Joseph collapsing onto

from a gaping wound in his chest, soaking his white coat a

pain in my own shoulder, I flipped him

"Joseph! Joseph!"