Delinquent
Page 18
“Don’t you mean the two of them?” He asked motioning toward Jordan and Sydney. “No” Said Dean Humphries, “I meant the three of you. As I’m sure you’ve gathered we are now one male lead short. Mrs. Lewis and I discussed possible candidates last night and we were both in agreement that a young man who takes time out of his day daily to help his fellow students with their studies is the exact type of person we need to help manage the barracks.” Hayden, still in shock, had to be ushered out of the room, Jordan gave him a gentle shove “Come on newbie, you’re on the clock now.”
There was a smile plastered across my face. I couldn’t help it. This last week or so had been the most challenging time of my sub sixteen life and this time I was coming out on top. Dean Humphries took a seat on the edge of my bed.
“I know it’s already been a big day for you and you need your rest to recover but there’s something I think you need to see. In his hand was a rolled up newspaper. I recognized the paper right away, it was my hometown paper, the same one I used to look up movie times, the same one that Chelsea and I used as kindling for our summer bonfires. Dean Humphries set the paper on my lap. “I’m going to leave you to read this on your own. If you need anything at all don’t hesitate to call my office.” With that he left the room. I knew what the paper would contain before I even opened it. I had been unconscious for three days but I dreamt during that time. I had dreamt of Chelsea far away from that shed, far from our house, the clearing, the neighborhood, far from everything. With a heart on fire I read the headline. “After a nearly 2 year search two missing girls were returned to their families thanks to new evidence brought forth by the perpetrators wife.”
Epilogue
I didn't know where she was, what she was like, or if she forgave me. What I did know was I wasn't the same either. Somewhere in the past two years our lives had taken different paths. I was the lucky one. I would always be the lucky one, the one that made it to the clearing.
For a long time I didn't know what to say to her, if I should say anything, but over time I learned to forgive myself and hoped she could too. I sat down at the desk of my new dorm room, it had only been two weeks and already I was more at home in here than I had ever been at home. With a shaky hand I began my first letter to Chelsea.