Если я останусь

           Whatspringsintomymindarethosenewsreportsabouttornadoesorfires,howthey’llravageonehousebutleavetheonenextdoorintact.Piecesofmyfather’sbrainareontheasphalt.Buthispipeisinhisleftbreastpocket.

           IfindMomnext.There’salmostnobloodonher,butherlipsarealreadyblueandthewhitesofhereyesarecompletelyred,likeaghoulfromalow-budgetmonstermovie.Sheseemstotallyunreal.Anditisthesightofherlookinglikesomepreposterouszombiethatsendsahummingbirdofpanicricochetingthroughme.

           IneedtofindTeddy!Whereishe?Ispinaround,suddenlyfrantic,likethetimeIlosthimfortenminutesatthegrocerystore.I’dbeenconvincedhe’dbeenkidnapped.Ofcourse,ithadturnedoutthathe’dwanderedovertoinspectthecandyaisle.WhenIfoundhim,Ihadn’tbeensurewhethertohughimoryellathim.

           IrunbacktowardtheditchwhereIcamefromandIseeahandstickingout."Teddy!I’mrighthere!"Icall."Reachup.I’llpullyouout."ButwhenIgetcloser,Iseethemetalglintofasilverbraceletwithtinycelloandguitarcharms.Adamgaveittomeformyseventeenthbirthday.It’smybracelet.Iwaswearingitthismorning.Ilookdownatmywrist.I’mstillwearingitnow.

           IedgecloserandnowIknowthatit’snotTeddylyingthere.It’sme.Thebloodfrommychesthasseepedthroughmyshirt,skirt,andsweater,andisnowpoolinglikepaintdropsonthevirginsnow.Oneofmylegsisaskew,theskinandmusclepeeledawaysothatIcanseewhitestreaksofbone