Jake flicks his flip-flops off his feet and settles next to me. He leans over and kisses my cheek, sighing.

"I'm happy to hear them laugh again." He smiles.

"I'm happy to see you safe again." I lean down and kiss his cheek and he laughs.

He digs a beer out of the cooler and sips it. There's a bag next to him and I grab it.

A book, sunblock, water.

Not one lighter.
Not one cigarette.

I smile and watch Hunter and Lacey race towards Jake.

Jake braces himself and catches the kids in either of his arms. He pulls them tightly to his chest and kisses the crown of their heads.

"I missed you, Uncle Jake!!" Both of the kids cheer.

Jake smiles and carries them to the sand castle they've been building and helps them.

I lean back and fall asleep.

~~Dream~~

Lucky thrashes against the black strips holding her down to the bed. She screams and cries for me to help her.

But I'm stuck.

I can't move.

Can't speak.

Can't scream.

My eyes widen as Lacey and Hunter appear next to their mother.

They look like dolls...

Because they are dolls...

Mark, Jake and Ki appear as well and they look just like Lucky.

T-E-R-R-I-F-I-E-D

They scream at me.

Then just...

Drop.

Lucky is the only one thrashing...

The only one left.

She screams and a hand slaps over her mouth and she disappears into the darkness.

~~End~~

I wake up and my heart pounds against my chest.

Jake is next to me and he places a hand on my thigh.

I squeeze his hand tight and drag him to the truck.

Ki and Mark ask where we're going and Jake turns around to say, "Please watch the kids. I'll take care of him."

They nod sadly and Jake and I climb into the truck.

I start it frantically and speed to the hospital.

My hand is still encased in Jake's, and my knuckles have been come pale white.

We run through the hospital doors and race to Lucky's room.

She's crying.

Her face is pale.

Purple bags line her eyes.

You can see her bones through her skin.

When she sees Jake and I charge through the door, she smiles.

She holds a shaver

And

Runs

The

Blade

Against

Her

Head,

Her

Beautiful

Blonde

Hair

Falls

Into

Her

Lap.

She's smiling with tears in her eyes.

She opens her mouth.

"I love you, Sean." She stutters.

I'm on the floor, screaming at her.

Screaming.
Yelling at her to tell me what's wrong with her.

She just smiles.