Entry #60

Entry #60
by Anne Erre


As soon as he came to, Rafe started screaming for help. He yelled until his throat was raw, until his voice cracked, until he had no voice left. Fear was making him sick.

How long had he been out? How late was it?

He knew he'd hurt his leg when he'd fallen down the hole, but he didn't dare reach down to find out how bad - as long as he couldn't feel anything from the knee down, then he couldn't feel the pain either, and that suited him fine.

He tried to sit up, but it felt like his bone was tearing his leg open and the pain was suddenly blinding, so horrible that he couldn't remember hurting so bad, ever. He screamed and sobbed for his parents, his voice miraculously brought back by the sudden need for his mom's warm touch, for his dad's stern talking-to. How many times had they warned him not to wander out after sunset, and never behind the barn where the ground was known to be treacherous?

How could he have been stupid enough to do it on the one evening his parents were out? Would they ever forgive him?

Please God, please. Please let my parents come back and find me. Please God. I'll never do it again.

Please God. I'll be good. Please God.

Still sobbing, he looked up through the opening, willing the clouds to move away from the moon.

Surely, that would make it easier for God to hear.