My Pretty Sweetheart (Arianna)

Suddenly, with a loud bang, the lamp on the bedside table and the other things on top fell to the floor, and I was plunged into utter darkness.

Fear engulfed me, I shrank into the corner. Within the darkness, and I heard a baby's cried.

My heart raced, long- buried fear and untold sorrow washed over me and threatened to suffocate me. I curled into myself, feeling all my carefully constructed self crumble in agony. Memories of that terrible night flooded my mind. I felt the same wave of helplessness and fear from that night. I looked down and saw a large pool of blood.

I screamed at the sight.

"Arianna!" Someone called out to me, from outside the window.

Terrified, I yelled, "Go away, all of you go away!"

Trying to stop the shaking, I buried my head in my knees, my body trembled so hard my teeth hurt.

"Arianna, it's me, Hendrix!" A soothing voice rang in my ears. The sounds of thunder receded slightly.

lights in the room were turned on, and I blinked at the sudden brightness. The curtains were tied up and

afraid!" A low voice

a few deep breaths and allowed my vision to get used to the light. It was only then

out, "It's the child. He's here. He... he blames me. He blames

said hoarsely, "No, he won't. He knows you love him. How can he bear to hurt you, someone who

arms. My tears kept flowing and my heart felt like it was suffocating. "I'm

"He knows. He knows it all, he's not blaming

when I calmed down enough, I attempted to push away to

carried me to bed instead and drew the blanket over me

was not blood, but just a small puddle of water that blew in through the window from

him. "How did you get in?" He hadn't

wiped his nose, and said, "Our balconies are connected, so I climbed

my head back to look at him with a frown, "Hendrix, you broke

on my elbow and