Levi scoffs, prompting me to turn on him next as he patronizes, “Seven years old versus a full-grown man.”
“Not even a gambling addict would take those odds,” Santiago adds condescendingly.
I level a glare toward him. “You guys didn’t have to step in.”
The abuse would’ve continued, but I would have survived, and their hands wouldn’t be stained with Daddy’s blood because of me.
“Stop it,” Walker barks.
I spin in another circle, feeling their presence even closer. It’s as if the walls are closing in on me, but the walls are three grown men to whom I owe everything.
“You killed him,” I state.
Walker drops his arms, leaning toward me. “And we’d do it again. Landon was a monster, a sick, depraved monster. He was molesting you, hisdaughter. No man deserves to take another breath after hurting a child like that.”
I don’t deserve this.
Their devotion. Their care.
My head tilts to the side. “Is this what you were talking about last week? The reason for ‘you don’t know everything about me’?”
Walker clenches his jaw, like he’s not going to give me an answer, just like the other day. I don’t grasp how much I need his response until he lets out an unshakable, “Yes.”
He thought I’d reject him for this? He’s the one who has to live with killing his best friend. He risked everything.Theyrisked everything. I’m the one who was rescued.
Nausea turns in my stomach, and a sob escapes my throat.
“Mi Cielo,” Santiago vocalizes, guiding me to face him. “You need to know that we don’t have any regrets.”
“But it’s because of me.” My voice cracks with emotion. “I made you do it.”
Levi places his hand on my cheek, urging my attention to him. “We all made a choice that night, Butterfly. We knew what we were doing.”
“Todos tomamos decisiones y tenemos que vivir con ellas,” Santiago adds. “Landon made his choice. We made ours. Now it’s your turn.”We all make choices and have to live with them.
Their words land on my heart and reverberate in my head, creating a stillness. The voice telling me that I’m the one who has to carry around the guilt and shame quiets.
The truth settles inside me.
I’m not responsible for the actions and feelings of another person.
What does that mean for me? Can I accept that? How do I move on from here?
“So what’s it going to be?” Walker questions.
One small step at a time, I face him. “What?”
He nods his head, indicating the bridge. “Are we going to move aside so you can jump, or are you coming home with us?”
My chest contracts.
I know my answer. It floats to me like a gentle breeze, easy and simple.
“I’m coming with you.”
Levi blows out a breath, wrapping his arms around my shoulders from the side, and buries his face in my hair.
“Gracias a Dios,” Santiago shouts to the sky, then emulates Levi’s position.Thank God.
