Echo’s Past
She wasn’t breathing. Her skin felt like a cold, skinless chicken breast. I didn’t know what to do. I pushed on her chest a couple of times, then leaned my ear down to her mouth. I’d seen people do this on TV. I didn’t know if I should be trying to hear her breath or feel it on my ear. I pushed again, but it didn’t feel like I was helping, it felt like I was inflicting more pain. This time when I leaned in, I just stayed there.
“Mom.” I started to cry.
I wrapped my arms around her. That’s when I knew she was dead. There was nothing. No one. Life was gone from her broken body. I was freaked out, devastated, and then scared. I looked one last time at my mother’s face, and then I went to Ray. He was unconscious, naked on the floor. I couldn’t tell if he was dead, but I didn’t want to wait around to find out.
Jana Van Felt 