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

rise but finding

voice was faint yet

"Zoey... leave me. Go!"

my face as I sobbed

We leave together! Both

my ankle, his grip weak

get help. You can't carry

broke down, crying so

other! You can't lie

I will never

only to be interrupted by a coughing fit that brought more blood to

"I'm not lying...

"Liars... are puppies..."

myself to stand,

wiped my face, the tears

my hand, his gaze steady but

you won't let me die,

tears blurring

me! I'll

"You'll be okay-I promise!"

faintly again and

"Alright."

could take more

powerful force slammed into me,

pain spread across my shoulder, leaving

I'd been shot.

my head, only to see Joseph collapsing

from a gaping wound in his

blank. Ignoring the searing pain in my own shoulder, I flipped him over, hands

"Joseph! Joseph!"