Shatter-Me-PDF-Shatter-Me-Series-Shatter-Me-Shatter-Me-1-Tahereh-Mafi (1)

I glance at the window and wonder if I’ll ever see a bird fly
by.
I glance at the clock on the wall and wonder what it means
to be living according to numbers again. I wonder what 6:30
in the morning means in this building.
I decide to wash my face. The idea exhilarates me and I’m
a little ashamed.
I open the bathroom door and catch Adam’s reflection in
the mirror. His fast hands pull his shirt down before I have a
chance to latch on to details but I saw enough to see what I
couldn’t see in the darkness.
He’s covered in bruises.
My legs feel broken. I don’t know how to help him. I wish I
could help him.
“I’m sorry,” he says quickly. “I didn’t know you were
awake.” He tugs on the bottom of his shirt like it’s not long
enough to pretend I’m blind.
I nod at nothing at all. I look at the tile under my feet. I
don’t know what to say.
“Juliette.” His voice hugs the letters in my name so softly I
die 5 times in that second. His face is a forest of emotion.
He shakes his head. “I’m sorry,” he says, so quietly I’m
certain I imagined it. “It’s not . . .” He clenches his jaw and
runs a nervous hand through his hair. “All of this—it’s not—”
I open my palm to him. The paper is a crumpled wad of
possibility. “I know.”
Relief washes over every feature on his face and suddenly
his eyes are the only reassurance I’ll ever need. Adam did
not betray me. I don’t know why or how or what or anything
at all except that he is still my friend.
He is still standing right in front of me and he doesn’t want
me to die.
I step forward and close the door.
I open my mouth to speak.
“No!”
My jaw falls off.