Ayla
I gently shook Carrie’s shoulder.
“Carrie… wake up. We were gonna play cards.”
No answer from her.
I figured she was just exhausted. Carrie was like that. She’d suddenly fall asleep after therapy or when her head hurt. So I shook her again, a little harder.
“Carrie?”
Something felt wrong in my chest. Like something was slowly sinking.
Her skin was cold. Her face was paler than usual.
“Carrie?” My voice trembled. I tapped her cheek. “Hey… it’s me.”
Her eyes didn’t move. Her chest wasn’t rising the way it always did. I held my breath and leaned closer, pressing my ear near her face, trying to hear anything—breathing, a sigh, whatever.
There was nothing.
Panic hit like a massive wave, crashing down without warning.
“S-Someone!” I screamed. “Help!”
Matt rushed in first. His f
