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.

then that Joseph

to rise but finding

voice was faint yet

"Zoey... leave me. Go!"

face as I sobbed uncontrollably, shaking my head

together! Both

grabbed my ankle, his

can't carry us both out

crying so hard that

other! You can't lie to

I will

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

"I'm not lying...

"Liars... are puppies..."

myself to stand, dragging him

my

gently squeezed my hand, his gaze steady but

you won't

tears

me! I'll come back

"You'll be okay-I promise!"

again and waved

"Alright."

could take more than a few steps, a thunderous gunshot

into me, knocking me to the

across my shoulder, leaving me

I'd been shot.

only to

from a gaping wound in his chest, soaking his

searing pain in my own shoulder, I flipped him over, hands shaking as I pressed

"Joseph! Joseph!"