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

Kenji glances at Adam’s drooping lids. “Yeah, well, I guess
I’m lucky he won’t be able to kill me tonight.” He hesitates.
Ducks into the car to run his fingers through James’s hair.
Smiles a little. “The kid is a saint. He’ll be perfect in the
morning.”
“I can’t believe you—”
“Hey, hey—” He holds up his hands. “Trust me. He’s going
to be just fine. I just didn’t want him to be any more
traumatized than he had to be.” He shrugs. “Hell, maybe
Adam will agree with me.”
“I’m going to murder you.” Adam’s voice is a soft mumble.
Kenji laughs. “Keep it together, bro, or I’ll think you don’t
really mean it.”
Kenji disappears.
I watch Adam, encourage him to stay awake. Tell him he’s
almost safe. Touch my lips to his forehead. Study every
shadow, every outline, every cut and bruise of his face. His
muscles relax, his features lose their tension. He exhales a
little more easily. I kiss his top lip. Kiss his bottom lip. Kiss
his cheeks. His nose. His chin.
Everything happens so quickly after that.
4 people run out toward the car. 2 older than me, 2 older
than them. A pair of men. A pair of women. “Where is he?”
the older woman asks. They’re all looking around, anxious. I
wonder if they can see me staring at them.
Kenji opens Adam’s door. Kenji is no longer smiling. In fact,
he looks . . . different. Stronger. Faster. Taller, even. He’s in
control. A figure of authority. These people know him.
Adam is lifted onto the stretcher and assessed
immediately. Everyone is talking at once. Something about
broken ribs. Something about losing blood. Something about
airways and lung capacity and what happened to his wrists?
Something about checking his pulse and how long has he
been bleeding? The young male and female glance in my
direction. They’re all wearing strange outfits.