Breaking Brandon

Chapter Three

Regina

Then

Grasping on to the cold handle of the gun, Regina’s body shuddered uncontrollably. Before tonight, she’d never even held a gun much less used one. Crouched down in a cold corner, she rocked back and forth, and the sobs came louder and louder.

Her entire body began to shake as thoughts of her family came to mind and what they’d say when they found out. Her father had a weak heart. Would this kill him? They’d all be devastated, no doubt.

“Why!” she screamed at the top of her lungs. “Why, Ryan? Why did you have to be so fucking selfish?”

Staring at her bloody knuckles, she chuckled grimly. All she’d wanted to do was break a few things to help ease the anger, and she couldn’t even do that without hurting herself. A few things like some dishes and then a bottle had quickly turned into her smashing every piece of furniture she owned. She stood up sloppily, holding on to the walls for support. The blood on her hands was smeared against the expensive blossom branch tile she’d taken so long to pick out, and now all of this meant nothing. The anger inundated her again. “This is all your fault! Do you hear me?!” She held the gun up over her head. “You did this! You! I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!”

Falling against the wall, she pressed her face against the cold tile and sobbed. Her entire face was one slobbery mess. Never in a million years would she have guessed she’d become this pathetic person. Never. Yet here she was holding the gun that would soon seal her fate. That she’d had succumb to such weakness riddled her with shame. Yet this is what it’d all come down to.

The knock on the front door was completely unexpected, and she froze. She waited, and then there were more knocks.

“Mrs. Brady?”

Recognizing her neighbor Quinn’s voice, Regina squeezed her eyes shut.

“No!” she muffled her own whispers against her fist. “Go away.”

He knocked again. “Is everything all right? I heard you screaming, and Mrs. Shimley said she heard the sound of things breaking and crashing in there earlier. Are you okay? Do you need me to call someone for you?”

Still sobbing, Regina slid her body down the wall until she hit the ground with a thud. She couldn’t even put two words together. She was crying so uncontrollably.

“Mrs. Brady, please answer me, or I’ll assume you need help.”

If he came in now, he’d see what she’d done. He’d try to stop her and ruin everything. The sound of the pounding on the door was now like a body slamming against it, so she scurried herself off the floor and rushed into the front room. Her thoughts were spinning. She couldn’t let him in!

Something slammed against her door again, and the third time, the door crashed open. She stood there frozen, staring at a stunned Quinn breathing heavily. They stared at each other for a few silent moments, and then his eyes began to quickly look around the room. They opened wider and wider as he took it all in. She saw the moment his eyes noticed the gun in her hand, and she began to lift it, her hand shaking violently.

He shook his head, his eyes nearly bulging out now in terror. “Mrs. Brady—Regina—don’t shoot, please!”