Page 114 of The Tattered Gloves
He agreed, and followed my lead as we both stepped out of the car. I could see why the teenagers of Sugar Tree had chosen this out of the way spot for a place to hang out. It was secluded, surrounded by lush evergreens and had a perfect view.
“Is that–?” I asked, looking down at the twinkling lights below.
“Home? Yeah. It’s pretty, isn’t it?”
I nodded, as his arms wrapped around me for warmth.
“I wasn’t trying to hide my struggles from you,” I finally said, as we both stared down at the town below. “I just didn’t know how to explain it because I don’t know what it is I’m struggling with.”
“Are you scared he’ll get out of jail?” he asked.
I shook my head. “Maybe in the beginning. But not anymore. When it was just my testimony, there was always this doubt that he’d get out of it. But when the D.C. police arrested my mom and she finally admitted to everything and identified Mr. Lee, I knew he’d be in jail for a long, long time.”
“I honestly was surprised your mom actually did the right thing for once,” he said as he shifted, taking my hand as we walked a short distance from the car.
“You and me both. Not that it erases everything she did to me as a kid. But it’s good to know she can make the right choice if she wants to.”
“Do you think you’ll ever go back? To D.C.?”
It had been something I’d been thinking about for some time. Ever since I’d been told of my mother’s arrest and eventual release on bond, I found myself wondering if she’d changed at all.
The little girl in me still wanted her to be the mother she should have always been.
But it wasn’t my job to seek her out.
“No,” I answered. “She knows where I am.”
We spent the next few minutes roaming around, until we headed back to the car and found spots next to each other on the hood.
Leaning back, I looked up at the stars. There were thousands, bright and brilliant without the glare of the street lights.
“Do you think there were others?” I asked.
“Others?”
“Other girls,” I clarified. “That he—”
His body turned toward mine, and that intense green gaze found mine instantly.
“That’s what has been bothering you.”
I nodded.
I hadn’t really realized it completely until this moment, but it plagued my thoughts daily.
“The idea that there could be more young girls out there hurting like me? What if there were dozens more after me? What if my silence ruined lives?”
I felt his finger brush through my hair.
“You can’t think like that Willow, you just can’t. The police know nothing about the guy other than what you told them. So, yes… there could be more or it could have been a one time thing, but knowing or not knowing will do nothing to help you to move on.”
“I do want to move on.”
“And you will.”
“Tell me something to cheer me up,” I said. “I know we’re supposed to remember all the bad stuff too, but right now, I just need the good.”
He smiled, pulling me closer, so close I could feel his breath on my cheeks.
