I looked over at Keys, who stood by his motorcycle, watching us with an unreadable expression.
He didn’t say a word. He just stood there, his eyes never leaving Sadie, as if he were afraid she might disappear if helooked away.
“Let’s go inside,” Dad said, his voice thick. “Come on.”
We all moved toward the house, Sadie sandwiched between Mom and Dad, and I hung back, falling into step beside Keys.
As we entered, Mom guided Sadie to the couch, sitting down beside her and taking her hands.
“Sadie, honey,” Mom said gently. “Why didn’t you tell us? About Alan. About what he was doing to you.”
Sadie’s face crumpled, and she looked down at her lap. “I... I couldn’t.”
“Why not?” Dad asked, his voice breaking. “We would have helped you. We would have—”
“I was ashamed,” Sadie whispered. “I didn’t see it at first; I ignored the red flags for so long.” She sniffled and said, “I kept telling myself that if I just acted better, dressed better, behaved better... lost some weight... he’d stop hurting me.” Her voice broke, and she covered her face with her hands.
Mom pulled her close, stroking her hair. “Oh, sweetheart. No. None of this was your fault. None of it.”
I stood by the doorway, my arms crossed, watching my sister fall apart. Knowing I was the reason it went on so long.
I’d known what was happening. I’d tried to talk to her. Tried to convince her to break up with him. I’d known what Alan was doing to her, but I didn’t try hard enough to stop it. Now she was here, broken and terrified, and I still didn’t know how to fix it.
Keys stood against the wall, his eyes locked on Sadie. He didn’t move, didn’t speak, but his presence was a constant, silent weight in the room. His hands flexed at his sides, as if he wanted to reach for her but was holding himself back. His gaze softened when she looked up, her tear-streaked face turning toward him for just a moment before she looked away again.
“Why did you come back?” I asked, my voice quiet.
Sadie looked up at me, her eyes red and swollen. “Because you took the blame for me.”
“I told you to run,” I said. “I told you to stay gone.”
“I know.” Her voice was barely a whisper. “But I didn’t know you were going to... I didn’t know you’d tell them you did it.”
“What did you think I was going to do?”
“I don’t know!” She stood abruptly, her hands shaking. “I wasn’t thinking, Simon! I was terrified, and you told me to run, so I ran. And then Keys found me and told me what you did, and I—” She broke off, her breath hitching. “I couldn’t let you go to prison for me.”
“So you came back,” I said.
“So I came back.”
The room was silent except for the sound of Sadie’s ragged breathing.
Then the front door opened, and Tony walked in.
He stopped in the doorway, his eyes sweeping over the room, moving from me to my parents, finally landing on Sadie. His eyes narrowed at my sister, and I pushed off the wall, ready to defend her against whatever bullshit he thought he could spew in her direction.
He ignored the look on my face and turned to Keys.
“Keys,” he said, his voice clipped. “Outside.”
Keys didn’t move. His eyes remained on Sadie.
“Now,” Tony barked.
Keys hesitated, then finally turned and walked toward the door. Tony stepped aside to let him pass, then followed him out onto the porch.
I moved to the window, watching as Tony pulled a manila envelope from his bag and handed it to Keys.
