Page 22 of One of Our Own

CHLOE:Don’t tell me you’re sorry! You did this! You told me to tell my parents. That’s what you said— [mocking tone]Oh, they’ll help you. You’ll see, it’ll make you feel better.Do you have any idea what my dad wants to do? Do you?

FELICIA:I saw your parents on the news today.

CHLOE:You saw them? [gulping for air like she’s trying to stop crying]

FELICIA:[softly] I did.

CHLOE:So you know all about it, then. But you know what else he did? He created an Instagram profile, @JusticeForChloe. And he wants me to make a video for it. That’s all he kept doing tonight. [mimicking his deep voice]C’mon, Chloe, this is important. Come on, Chloe, we have to do this.And he won’t listen to me. He doesn’t care. All he wants to do is find those boys, but you know what? I don’t even care about those stupid boys anymore. I didn’t want them to go to the media. I didn’t want to tell anyone. Now the whole world knows. They never even asked me.

FELICIA:Chloe, I— Is it okay if I use your name?

CHLOE:I don’t care. Nothing matters. This is all so unfair. My friend was there, too, but they only recorded me. And I’m not saying I wanted it to happen to her, too, but… She’s not going to have to move. Change her whole life. [lets out a cry] Why me? Why did they just want to destroy my life? [sobbing too hard to continue]

FELICIA:None of this is fair, or your fault.

CHLOE:But none of that matters. Don’t you see that? Everyone knows who I am. And no boy is ever gonna want to have anything to do with me. Who’s gonna want to touch me when they know I’m trash? A disgusting piece—

FELICIA:Look, Chloe, stop. You are not trash. Do you hear me? There is absolutely nothing disgusting about you. You are a beautiful young woman who had something horrible happen to you, and I’m—I’m so sorry. And I’m sorry your parents didn’t respect your wishes.

CHLOE:You told me they’d help me! You said if I told them that they would find a way to help me! Now it just made everything worse.

FELICIA:You’re right—I didn’t think that would happen, and I’m sorry. I just didn’t want you to be alone. I never thought they’d make it so public.

CHLOE:What am I supposed to do now? I’ve gotta move. Go to a different school… This is all your fault. It’s all your fault. You told me to tell them. You kept telling me,Go to your parents, they’ll help you.

FELICIA:I know I did, and I really thought it was the best thing. I’m sorry. I didn’t—

CHLOE:Stop saying you’re fucking sorry! Oh my god, if you say it one more time, I swear to God, I don’t know what I’m going to do.

FELICIA:Okay, okay, I’m— Let’s try and figure this out together. What are we going to do?

CHLOE:What arewegoing to do? [disgruntled laugh] You’re going to go on with your happy little life answering the phone for all the poor messed-up kids that call in. You’re going to fill their heads full of bullshit just like you did to me. And then you’ll be done, congratulating yourself for being such a great volunteer and giving back to the community. Like nothing ever happened.

FELICIA:That’s not true. Really, Chloe, I haven’t thought about anything else since you called in. I’ve barely slept. All I’ve done is wait to hear from you and try to figure out how I can help you.

CHLOE:Oh, please! You know why I really called tonight?

FELICIA:I think you called because you’re really upset, and believe me, Chloe, you have every right to be upset. Angry with me. Angry with your dad. The police. The boys. All of it. I’d be so angry and upset if I were you.

CHLOE:Oh, that’s not why I called. [snort-laughs] Remember what you said before? Your brilliant idea?Tell your parents and if that doesn’t make it better, then we can decide what to do next.Well, I’ve already decided.I tried reaching out to my parents just like you said, and it made things worse. So, I’m just calling to tell you goodbye. Because that’s what you said—that I had a choice. So this is what I’m choosing. I don’t want to be here anymore. I never should’ve listened to anything you said.

FELICIA:No, Chloe. You don’t mean that. Honey, listen to me. I did not mean it that way. I didn’t. Please don’t do anything to hurt yourself. Please.

CHLOE:Well, I guess you shouldn’t have said all that then, because I believed you. You want to hear something? [long pause. An audible click, then another, like a gun being cocked]

DISPATCHER:[cuts into call; Felicia has called 911 and added them to the call]: 911, what’s your emergency?

FELICIA:[talking fast] My friend is on the line with us and I’m afraid she’s going to hurt herself. Chloe, do you have a gun? Are you at home?

CHLOE:[laughs] Nice try. [dial tone, end of call]

FELICIA:Chloe! Chloe, did you hang up? Chloe? [dial tone fades out]

DISPATCHER:Ma’am, I’m still on the line. What’s your location?

FELICIA:Ohmygod, please, you have to help her. Please, somebody help her!

DISPATCHER:Ma’am, what’s your name?

---