I nod.She releases my hand.I don’t know when we grabbed on to each other.But we haven’t let go until now.Today, I’m grateful she no longer lives in Brooklyn.
My empty hand shakes.My body trembles.My eyes blink back a new wave of tears.
Mr.Argent pushes Danikain a wheelchair through the open doors.Mrs.Argent walks beside the ghost of her daughter.Dark circles emphasize her round eyes, speckled with red dots.Her face is bloodless.Hints of bruising collars her neck like a shackle.That she broke free from today.
I stand.As does my mother.Collin and my dad too.I don’t remember when they returned.
The chair rolls to a stop in front of me.Danika reaches for my hand.I take hers and hold on with both of mine.
“Is there anything we can do, Gretchen?”my mother asks.
“No, but thank you.They wanted her to stay the night for observation.But we can do that at home.”I nearly forgot that her mom works at the hospital.She looks to me.“Thank you for being there for my daughter today.I know you want to be with her, but the doctors don’t want her speaking until the swelling goes down.Maybe you can come by on Sunday?”
I nod and press my friend’s hand to my cheek before letting her go.
In an unexpected gesture, my mother puts her arm through mine and braces me against her.“Why don’t you and I drive together in your car?Your dad can take Collin home.”
I watch Danika being helped into the idling car outside the entrance.
Collin’s in front of me.I let him hug me.I don’t know if I hug him back.
Did you see it happen?”my mother asks.She maneuvers the car slowly down familiar snow-covered streets that lead us home.Everything is still and quiet, covered in white.
I shake my head.
“I’m so sorry, Sadie.I really am.”Her voice is thick with emotion.When I look at her profile, a tear rolls down her cheek.I don’t think I’ve ever seen my mom cry.“It’s hard to know what to do when we watch the people we love being hurt.”
I close my eyes, consumed by the slow drip of my heart, bleeding into the chasm.I let it happen.Over and over again while they dated.I didn’tdoanything.I turned my head and wished it away.Wishing doesn’t protect anyone.It’s a feathered sword.And he almost killed her.
Why wasn’t I a better friend?
Jaz and Darcy are waiting in my room when I walk in.They arrived for our sleepover, not knowing what happened at the bonfire until Magda let them in and told them why we were at the hospital.
My friends jump up from my bed and embrace me in a group hug.We squeeze each other for a long time.Their eyes shine with worry.
“Is she okay?”Darcy asks.
I close my eyes to contain my unshed tears and shake my head.
“How can she be?”Jaz replies for me.“The person who swore he loved her tried to end her.”
I swallow.The marks he left behind are branded in my mind.
“We’re staying over,” Jaz says.“So you better like being spooned because that bed is somehow going to fit all three of us.”
A shadow of a smile forms on my face.I’m suddenly exhausted.
I grab clothes that are oddly folded and stacked on my chair next to the bookcase and head into the bathroom.When I return, I look around.My room isclean.
“We were waiting a long time,” Darcy explains.“And I needed something to do.”
“Get in here,” Jaz beckons, folding back the covers.
I crawl in and am sandwiched between my friends.Darcy clicks off the bedside light, and the room darkens.As exhausted as I am, sleep doesn’t come easily.
We don’t wait until Sunday.Right after breakfast, the three of us are at the Argents’ door.Mrs.Argent reads our determined faces—we’re not going anywhere until we see Danika.
“Promise not to let her speak?”
