I shook my head. “No, Aria, you’ve always had your voice. You’re just now learning how to use it. And so am I.”

I had learned a lot in the past few days. For a long time I had lived in the company of demons—demons of my own making. Owen’s death wasn’t the answer. The answer had always been buried under the lies I sold myself—that I wasn’t good enough, pretty enough . . . or enough. Embracing who I was and who I wanted to be, that was the answer. Loving myself enough to fight for myself. I wish I would have learned it sooner, but it wasn’t too late. It was never too late.

Robin and Lily had always seen my worth; if only I would have too, maybe Owen would still be alive. Maybe, maybe, maybe. I didn’t live in a world of maybes, but I did live in a world of endless possibilities that started with today.

Epilogue

One Year Later

BODY OF ACCUSED RAPIST FOUND

May 12

Beaver County, Pennsylvania

The body of Geoffrey Faust, the suspect in a string of college rapes in the early 2000s, was found in an abandoned park in Beaver Falls on Monday morning when police acted on a tip about the location of the body. In the murder conviction of Susan Faust in July last year, mother of the deceased, details were made public regarding the disappearance of her son. While no evidence had surfaced regarding Mr. Faust’s whereabouts, Susan Faust alleged that Owen Fischer, 42, had been responsible for her son’s murder.

After murdering Mr. Fischer with a cocaine overdose last May, Mrs. Faust was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison. At that time, Mr. Faust’s disappearance was still under investigation.

The Beaver Falls Police Department recovered Mr. Faust’s remains in a wooded area. The body was identified using dental records. The cause of death was a single gunshot wound to the chest.

As a result of publicity surrounding Mrs. Faust’s trial, three women have come forward with rape allegations against her late son, who recognized him from photographs.