A few minutes ticked by, “Elayna?” It was a long ride home as disheartened as I was. I was mentally and physically exhausted but wide awake because I could not escape Michael’s pleas followed by the echo of Brenda’s declaration “He doesn’t love you.” By the time we pulled up to our building my head was pounding and I was too worn out to walk. My dad picked me up and I clung to his neck as he carried me inside. My mom helped me get ready for bed and gave me a dose of medicine. “This will help you rest and hopefully bring your fever down.” She brushed the hair back from my forehead and kissed me goodnight. My dad came and sat on the edge of the bed for a few minutes. He didn't say anything, just gently stroked my cheek and before I knew it I started to relax and drift off. I could still hear Michael calling to me but it was not with the same intensity as before and he had changed his appeal from Elayna to a simple Please. He sounded so defeated that I nearly relented and answered him but the medicine must have been working because I couldn’t stop myself from falling fast asleep.
