“What the hells going on, Spencer?” Kyla demanded.

“Look, I’ll tell you in the car, but we need to get Ashley to,” I’m not sure why, but I whispered the last part, “the hospital. Taking Ashley by the wrist I began to walk towards the door, but she wouldn’t budge. “Baby, c’mon.” I tugged a little harder; still, she stayed staring at her feet not moving. I felt like I was trying to walk a damn dog.

“C’mon Ash,” Kyla joined in. The girl won’t do anything, just stare at her feet: no talking, moving. Hell, I didn’t even know if she was still breathing!

“Damn it Ashley! Get you ass in the fucking car!” I growled after one last tug. Through her curtain of hair, I say her chin start to tremble, but she pulled away and limped lifelessly towards the hallway and then the front door. Kyla turned towards me, shocked.

“What the fuck happened to her?!” Unclenching my fists, I walked past her, after Ashley saying hatefully, “cocaine.” Kyla wasn’t following me so I yelled back, “you’re driving.”

On the way there I filled Kyla in, mentioning Ashley’s stupid addiction and that she freaked out. I left out most of the details, but she got the picture. Kyla’s knuckles grew whiter as her grip on the steering wheel tightened through my ‘story’.

“And you’re still here?” I glanced back from my seat upfront. Ashley was sitting behind Kyla staring mournfully out the foggy window. It was unnaturally cold today. One hand, that continued to bleed, was picking at the jacket Kyla grabbed for Ashley. The other bloodied hand’s fingers where lightly splayed against the cool surface of the window. She looked like a caged animal, wanting out. Like the tigers you see at the zoo – once strong and beautiful, now losing the will to get out – and the light kinda leaves their eyes. They always look… lost. Ashley continued to stare lifelessly out the window, but I caught how the air was held in her chest, how her eyes pleaded for an answer. So I gave her the only one I could because all I could hear were her broken words and I didn’t want those ones to be the thing keeping us together…

“I’ll be here as long as she lets me…” When I looked back again, her chocolate eyes were closed and she was resting her head against the window of the car. I think she was trying to sleep… I smiled – only for a second – then turned back towards the front.