Page 214 of Chasing Hope

He’s been like this since the moment Kieran broke the news about the other girls. It wasn’t until then that Caleb looked at all of his messages. I haven’t even dared to pick up my phone, though my chest grows tight at the thought of everything waiting for me.

The only time Caleb moved his head or even so much as blinked was when her scream came from the forest. If it wasn’t for Kieran’s warning that he was going to encourage her to let it all out, I would have gone sprinting.

It hasn’t been hard to put the pieces together. The idea he approached me with about the website to help kids have a voice against their abusers, and now how he knows what Evie needs. My heart breaks for him.

I’m trying not to think about it, to think about how these two beautiful people had to go on living their lives as if the most heinous act wasn’t committed against them. My mind is already at capacity.

There’s so many questions to be asked, conversations that need to be had, and yet here I am, silent. Because what is there to say? No amount of talking will fix this. The only thing that there is to do is take him to court. Even that’s out of our hands now that the investigation is underway, although hopefully with the public scrutiny, there’s a fire under the detectives’ asses.

I suppose that’s the only positive with this becoming public. That, and the knowledge Evie wasn’t the only one.

It’s horrendous that she had to be violated again for that to happen, though. That justice isn’t as black and white as we all had hoped.

You hear things online every day, tragedies that occur every second around the world, ones that make you shake your head in pure disbelief that people get away with what they do. And yet, you still don’t fully feel the impact, never truly believe that the system designed to protect you will fail you…until it happens to you. Until you’re watching a loved one crumble under the weight of humanity’s darkest depravities.

I’ve never felt as hopeless as I do, have never felt so useless in the face of adversity. The most I can do is be there for her, help her heal her shattered heart, and I will. I’ll show up every day and help her mend what he broke. I’ll do it myself on the days she doesn’t have the strength.

I’ve contacted lawyers. I’ve reached out to her therapist to schedule an appointment for when we’re back in town. I even tried setting up a Zoom meeting so Evie could speak with her during all of this, but she didn’t have the energy for it.

I don’t blame her.

I’m so consumed by my own thoughts I don’t hear them coming. My head snaps up at the creak of the front door. As Evie steps through, Caleb finally snaps out of his frozen stupor and stands.

I don’t realize I’m holding my breath until her blue Antarcticeyes lift to mine and a rush of air escapes me in one fell swoop. All it takes is a look, a single glance, and I know my Dove is exhausted from flying and ready to land.

Before I can say anything, Caleb beats me to it, stepping in front of me as he asks hesitantly, “Do you…do you know?”

Something shutters over Evie’s eyes, an emotion I can’t decipher. “Yes,” she says flatly.

Caleb’s hands are fidgeting at his sides, his weight shifting from foot to foot. “Are you okay?”

“No.” She stares at her brother then, and whatever she finds has her gaze softening. “And neither are you.”

Kieran steps up beside Evie, cocking his head at Caleb. “Come on, man, we’ll go for a walk ourselves.”

Caleb just snorts at him. “I’m not going to scream.”

Kieran’s brow quirks. “No, but it sure as shit will feel good taking a baseball bat to a dead tree.”

He pauses.

Evie must sense his hesitation because she lays a gentle hand on her brother’s forearm. “Go. Matteo will take care of me. You don’t need to stay glued to my side.”

“I never want to leave again.”

Evie’s smile is sad as she whispers, “It’s over now, Caleb. What happened was a long time ago. He can’t hurt me physically anymore.”

No one in the room misses her distinction. He can’t harm her physically, but emotionally? He can and he is, every day he continues this fucking tirade.

Stepping forward, I clap him on the shoulder. “I’ve got her. Go take care of yourself.”

Caleb turns and looks at me, the war raging through his mind evident. I try to convey that I’ve got this, and though it doesn’t fully soothe the worry coursing through him, it’s enough that he lets out a heavy sigh before wrapping Evie in a quick embrace.

“Okay, I won’t be long.”

“Take your time, Caleb.”

The walk out the door isn’t easy for him, judging by his slow, unsteady steps. This is the first time since Evie’s birthday,besides him being arrested, that he’s left her side, and his reaction tells me everything I need to know about my best friend. Evie isn’t the only one breaking; I think her heartache is just more noticeable.