Novel & Cerita As I Lay Dying Audiobook

It settled over the room, heavy and unyielding, as if even the air knew something was about to break. I sat on the edge of the couch, elbows resting on my knees, eyes locked on the small flash drive resting on the glass coffee table. Its matte black surface caught the faint glow from the city lights, the engraved golden “L” shimmering faintly, almost alive. I had watched the video three times—each viewing like a punch to the gut, each replay revealing new layers of truth I wasn’t sure I was ready to face. Her voice, so gentle and calm, sounded like she had recorded that day she was already at peace with her dying. But her words? They cut deeper than any blade.

The man’s voice kept talking… something about calling an ambulance, but his words sounded far away, muffled, like they were underwater. I could smell asphalt. I could taste blood. And through it all, one thought pushed its way through the chaos — not Daniel, not anger, not pain. Just this dull, almost detached realization: So this is how I die. God, what a pitiful way to go.

I can feel some go down. “This is not working,” I hear Tatina say. They lay me back, and I feel myself moving again. “We have to get here in the van. I can start an IV when we get her home,” I hear Lester say. I feel his hand touching mine. He is with me now. I can rest. I close my eyes again. I hear the muffled voices, but I do not know what is being said. I feel like I am dying. I am not ready to die, not yet. I want to live and be with my love. Lester! I try to scream, but nothing is coming out. My eyes are shut and will not move for me. I can hear something but then nothing. I am dying. This is not fair!

“That smile doesn’t reach your eyes. Something is wrong.” He leaned forward, studying me the way a doctor studies a patient he already knows is sick. “You’re sweating, and we’re sitting directly under an air conditioner. I called your name four times. Four times, Kai.” He moved closer until there was no comfortable distance left between us. “Talk to me. I’m your friend. Whatever it is, you can tell me.” I opened my mouth. Closed it. Opened it again. “David.” My voice came out as a whisper. “I’m dead.”

" These sentences were all said by Winston himself a few days ago. Each wound was pushing the person towards death. This abused person was his fiancée. I tilted my head, forcing back the tears that were about to fall. How could it not hurt? My last thought before I died was that I wanted to live. I wanted to keep our child. Because they might be the only child I had in my life. However, everything I wanted to cherish became a bubble in that nightmare.

… On and on they went, picking apart my life and marriage and dragging my name through the dirt, never knowing the man in the casket was still alive, counting down his final hours in despair. The pastor completed the last prayer, and the order was given to lower the casket. I struggled with everything I had, feeling every second tick away, but no one was coming to save me. I felt them carry me toward the plot. Right before they lowered me into the earth, I heard Celia lean in close against the casket. With much difficulty, I forced myself to mutter, "Help… me."

Zack asked. "No…that's not it!" Madison panickedly waved her hands. The man scoffed. "What do you mean that's not it? I still have the transaction details—and the call recordings too." He then turned to Zack. "I've heard so much about you, Dr. Smith. Seeing you reminds me of that poor sister of yours. Her bones were really tough. My men and I had to hammer away for hours before we could finally break them. "She screamed until she lost her voice. Even a drug dealer like me couldn't help but pity her. But I have to say—that sister of yours is truly a wonderful woman. All my men kept saying she was the wettest woman they've ever touched."

Scarlett seemed to remember something and immediately told them to let me go. Seth pointed at me in frustration. "Scarlett, don't let Ron fool you. He's the one who's acting. "I barely tapped him three times and he's acting like he's dying. Who's he trying to fool?" The moment he finished speaking, I collapsed to the ground, unable to support myself. Blood seeped through my white shirt, spreading across my back in a dark red stain. The onlookers gasped in shock. "Ron, are you okay?"

He coughed violently and tried to take huge gulps of air to compensate for the long lack of it. I spoke in an ice cold voice “If you think you can talk to me like that and tell me who I am and what I can and can’t do, I suggest you think again. But it will be the last time you open your mouth before you drop dead too” The look on his face said that he already just died from my hurtful words. That he already just died from watching his daughter turn into someone else he truly cannot recognize anymore. I kept my face the same even though this time, his pain went right through me, punching another hole in my heart, right next to the one that was already there after watching Jude die.

The coffin loomed in front of me, cold and inviting. I turned to the crowd again, my so-called family, then back to Lucas. My legs trembled as I slowly stood. Every movement hurt, but none of it mattered now. I was going to die either way. My throat burned. My chest ached. I approached the coffin and opened it. Inside, the cushioning looked soft. Ironically comfortable. I gave a soft, bitter smile. At least I’d die lying down. No one would watch me take my last breath. Tears welled in my eyes as I lay inside the coffin, curling slightly on my side.