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

attempting to rise but finding himself

was faint

"Zoey... leave me. Go!"

streamed down my face as I sobbed uncontrollably, shaking my

leave together! Both

his grip weak

You can't carry us both out

down, crying so

promised each other! You can't

I will never

interrupted by a coughing fit that

"I'm not lying...

"Liars... are puppies..."

myself to stand, dragging him

I wiped my

squeezed my hand, his gaze steady but

now... you won't let

tears blurring

I'll come back for

"You'll be okay-I promise!"

faintly again and waved me

"Alright."

I could take more than a few steps, a thunderous gunshot shattered the

me, knocking

spread across my shoulder,

I'd been shot.

only

gaping wound in his chest,

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

"Joseph! Joseph!"