I closed my eyes and let my head drop backwards against the headrest. Defeated. I was completely defeated.

Alexis sniffled. “Look, Mum. I know you just want the best for me, but I’ll call you back later, okay?”

“Alright, my girl. I love you,” Harriot replied. Then, the call ended.

I took a minute to compose myself, then mustered up enough courage to face Harriot. “Thank you, Mrs Thorne.”

Tears gathered in her eyes as she reached out to grip my shoulder. “Don’t thank me for that, son.” The endearment took me so off guard that I nearly passed out from her touch. When a set of lights came up behind me, the car parked, and my parents got out.

“You called them?”

“I had to,” Harriot said sympathetically. “You made a bad decision, Owen. That doesn’t make you evil, it makes you human. I will always be angry for what you did to my baby girl, but you have to learn to live with your actions. Just like she has to. You have bigger priorities to worry about now. Find peace in that.” And with that parting statement, Harriot left me with my parents.

Chapter 8

OWEN

My dad guided me back to his truck and into the passenger seat, then drove us away from the crime scene—where my heart was left stomped on and bleeding out all over the dirty asphalt.

Mum took my car, probably driving it back to their house.

I didn’t pay attention to my surroundings until familiarity bleated like a siren in my head. “No, I can’t go there.”

Dad didn’t reply and continued until we were parked at Mercy Lake. Geez, why did he have to bring me here? As if I’m not tortured enough.

“We”re worried about you, son. You may be living under our roof, but you’re practically a ghost. You’re not talking to us… or anyone, from what it seems.” The exchange was surreal. Seth Ivans was a stoic man, not known for his emotional sensibility. Yet, there we were having the “talk”. Things must be dire indeed.

Dad ran a hand through his black-grey hair, sweeping his brown eyes to me. “That may be mine and your mum’s fault. We’ve never been great with expressing our… feelings. But we can all see you hurting, Owen, and we don’t want you to feel alone in this. We’re here.”

“I don’t deserve your concern, Dad. This is my sin to bear.”

“And how is that working out for you, huh? I’m here to share in your burden, so let me.”

I sighed, staring out at the waveless water, wishing it held all the answers. Instead, I confessed in the silent carriage of my father’s truck, letting the weight of my decisions unravel for the first time.