My throat burned as she held my hair back rubbing on my back, I barely heard her scream for her parents before my eyes rolled back into my head surrounding me in darkness.

~Ashley’s POV~

Bailey was sickly pale laying in the large bed with the comforter pulled up to her chin. A cold rag resting on her forehead while her chest rattled up and down with every breath she took. Glen had rushed right in to the bathroom just as I caught her from hitting her head on the floor, he didnt ask questions right away just lifted her up and took her to her room while I ran to get a grown up.

Mama and mom both were out in the field talking about the coming cattle run. When they saw me coming they automattically knew something was wrong and came running with me. I told them exactly what happened.

Mom said the best thing was rest. She turned the light out and everyone left. Except me. I couldn’t, at first, but soon my eyes felt heavy. I needed rest for school and for the game. Standing up I made my way toward the door before a haunted whisper made it to my ears making them burn.

"Ashie…"

Turning I saw her still alseep without moving an inch making me unsure if I had heard her right.

"…teddy bear…" she choked out in a tearful whisper still asleep.

Looking closer I could see tears leaking slowly from her closed eyes. Swallowing I walked up slipping into the bed with her wrapping my arms up, "I’m so sorry I didn’t stop him…" tears trickled down my cheeks as I held her close running my fingers threw her hair in a calming motion watching her fretful sleep turn peaceful and the tears slowly stop but mine only worsened, "I’m sorry Spencer,"

It was the first time I really let her real name slip past my lips in her presence and it made my chest hurt, "I should have known…I should have held you back…should have been a better teddy bear!"

My sobs took over stopping words from trembling from my lips. Just looking at her made me angry with myself for being a worthless protector, jumping away I ran to my room curling up and crying myself to sleep.

Finally letting all the guilty rack my small frame, finally feeling how horrible of a sister I had been.

TBC…