Molly Matrix stepped out of her house to greet her neighbors only to be met with a suckerpunch. What will her neighbor, Kirin Trace, do next?

She snatches her arm back with a scowl. She turns to me, stance firm. "If I find that you've spoken to him while I'm gone, you're dead."

She was leaving him here? I glance at Edmund in confirmation. He subtly nods. Edmund has been my neighbor for years, but I've never even been able to give him a hello whenever I pass by without his crazy mom pouncing on me. I kept trying though because Edmund always seemed lonely to me. I guess I was just a glutton for punishment.

I push myself to my feet, brushing off the dirt and grass stains as best I could. I consider arguing with her, but a look from Edmund stops me. Instead, I nod in acquiescence. Miss Kirin Trace leaves. I hear the word hussy as she enters her home with Edmund.

Sometimes, I wonder if his mom is abusive. I listen from my window, hoping not to hear a slap or a thud. Yet, Edmund never has a scratch on him and she touches him so delicately.

I go inside, limping up my stairs back to my desk. Well, she may not abuse him, but she certainly abuses me. I pull out my math homework and begin to work on problems.

I hear the car leave and head back to the front door, checking. Her car is indeed gone. I walk over to Edmund's house and stand in front of the door, my hand raised to knock.

Maybe you should just give up. After all, you've failed to help him all these years. Maybe it was time to throw in the towel.

My hand falls as an overwhelming feeling of gloom fills me.

Why do you even bother living? You're no help to anyone. You can't even help this one guy. Why go through all of the strife?

I lift my wrist, looking at the veins in it. Such a small, vulnerable thing, and it's used to carry my blood, all the time.

I wonder if my fingernails were sharp enough to puncture it.

My hand inches closer, resting against it. Maybe it's the right thing to do.

After all, there was that time two years ago. If you hadn't tried to help her, maybe she wouldn't have-

No. I shake myself. I thought I was done with this. Her death was not my fault. It wasn't my fault. I can't go through that again. My fingernails twitch against the vein. The vein that stood between me and death.