When it felt like it had finally all come up, I stood straight and wiped my streaming eyes with my sleeves.Rosen was a foot away on the other side of the tape, waiting with the octopus bottle in her hand.
I reached for it.“You’re a real one, Rosen.Thanks.”I squeezed water into my gloveless hand and then brought it to my forehead.The nausea cramping my stomach relaxed and the tension in my body from fighting for my life finally released.I squeezed some water into my mouth, swished it around, and spat it out.
Glove back on, I reached for Rosen’s hand to help me over the tape.“His name is Mike.I didn’t get the name of the teenaged girl in the bag.They worked together at a movie theater.She didn’t think of him as old, so he must have been a teen then too.”
I walked around the taped area to where the captain and Osso were standing.Rosen was keeping close to me.“He drugged her.She thought she was going to Lisa’s house.They all worked together.The victim was hoping to talk to a guy named Joshua that she had a crush on.Mike was supposed to be driving them to the party.He kept shoving a bottle of booze at her.She’d only had one or two sips, and she was out of it, so he drugged her.”
I took my backpack from Osso and returned the bottle before swinging it onto my own shoulder.“He brought her here to the pond.Her head was spinning so hard, she couldn’t stand up.He hit her, threw her down so her head was in the water as he started to strip her.”Rosen made a quiet noise beside me.She didn’t want to hear it any more than I wanted to say it.
“She screamed and flailed.It sounded like she actually connected with his mouth at one point.That pissed him off.He flipped her over so her whole head was under water as he raped her.She couldn’t lift it, which is why I was vomiting pond water.”I turned toward Osso’s SUV.“His name is Mike.I’m done.”
I climbed into his vehicle, closed my eyes, and waited to get out of here.Throat tight, I felt the tears gather behind my eyelids.I crossed my arms over my stomach.How was I going to keep her safe?That poor girl was just catching a lift from a coworker.
Eventually, Osso climbed in.He was quiet a moment then said, “Seat belt.”
Nodding, eyes still closed, I strapped myself in and waited to escape.
Osso started his engine, backed up, and headed down the road.After a minute, he grumbled, “Sorry.”
I wiped the tears that had spilled down my face.“Me too.”
We drove almost the whole way back in silence.When we were close to the gallery, he said.“I meant to take those shoes when we were back at the site.Sorry.I do have to put them in evidence.”
I kicked them off as he pulled up in front of my place.
“Wait.I have those little booties for you to wear.”
I opened the door and slid out with my backpack.“I have socks on.It’s fine.”I slammed his door and walked down the dirt path around my gallery.The tears were pouring now.Choking back a sob, I went through my new gate before dropping my backpack and phone on a bench.Pockets empty, I climbed up and dove over the railing.
I let myself drop to the ocean floor and sat there, weaving in the current.Cecil wrapped a tentacle around my arm, and I brushed my free hand over his suckers.I’m okay, I thought.It felt like he understood.As he unwrapped one tentacle, another brushed my cheek.Wilber booped my shoulder.Instead of playing chase, like I normally would, I petted his head.
There was so much evil in the world.I thought about all the men over the years that had stalked me and tried to abduct me.No wonder Mom seemed angry most of my life.She’d been on never-ending guard duty.
What if my little girl was the same and had obsessives after her too?Or what if I was holding her and had a vision?My stomach flipped inside out, thinking about dropping my baby, or worse yet, landing on top of her.
Shhh.A strong arm wrapped around me.Why are you upset, daughter?
I leaned into him.It’s been a pretty crappy day.I thought about the crime scene.
The next time they ask you to help them, say no.He nodded decisively.Decision made.Problem solved.
I can’t,I told him.
Of course you can.I can make them forget they even know you exist.
I swayed with the waves, but Dad didn’t.The ocean probably knew to never bother him.Wait.Are you actually here with me?
He shook his head, his curly hair like mine, drifting around his face.No.I was told my daughter was upset, so I’m here to see why.No more working with the police.Is that better now?
In general, I like helping them.I like using my gifts to help victims and point the police toward the bad guy.It’s not that, really.I mean it is, but…I told him all about the camp, that poor little boy, the teenaged girl, and my fears over my own daughter.
He listened intently and when I was done said,I can teach you how to change the perspective of the vision, so you are not living it.It requires you to force a break with the person whose head you’re in.Think of yourself as a bird, above it all, rather than in it.
He took my hand, slipping off the glove and holding it.No more, all right?You don’t have to live their pain in order to tell their stories and help them get justice.Your mother’s side of the family raised you to be strong for them but to see yourself as lesser, allowing them to feel better about being in the presence of a far superior being.
I grinned.But you’re not biased or anything.
It’s not biased to recognize truth.What they did, though, makes you act as though you owe everyone everything you have.You don’t.You have the right to your life, your happiness, your power.If you choose to give of yourself to help others, so be it.But it is not your debt in life.Did I explain that right?Do you understand?
