Tears spilled onto Amanda’s cheeks, and James reached for her. Seconds passed before she decided to accept his embrace, but the she launched into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably. Her whole body trembled. James didn’t say anything as he held her. But he knew she had to release all the sadness, the terror, the whole aloneness that had suffocated her from the day of the fire, through her boyfriend’s death, to now. He had plenty of experience with grief, his own and those he counseled. It never got any easier to bear or to hear.

“He didn’t mean to do it. We tried to help but... I’m so scared. I’m so sorry. What’s gonna happen? What’s gonna happen? I’m so scared. Help, please help.”

Her body shivered in his arms, and James’s heart broke for her, for them all. “It’s OK. You’re OK. It’s all over.”

He pulled back to look at her, and she smacked away her own tears.

“You know we have to tell the sheriff the truth, right? We can’t let Travis take the blame for this.”

She nodded as she hiccoughed on a sob.

He raised his gaze to the others. Relief shone in every eye. These kids had borne a burden that had crushed lesser people. A horrible accident had transformed them into children who thought they had no future beyond the horror that hung over them. Giving the burden to him…to a minister, whom they thought had a direct line to God, had set them free.

…and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. The verse from John’s Gospel travelled through James’s head, and he said a silent prayer of thanks. Despite the cold night, warmth blanketed James. God had not abandoned him after all, He’d led him home and to the facts that would free Travis—and ease the burdens these teens had carried for so long.

James’s heart suffused with God, the Almighty lighting the places that had darkened, filling him with such joy that tears gathered at the corners of his eyes, although none fell. He took a deep breath and let it out.

With light shed on the truth, the entire town could heal. The Pearces were still gone; nothing could ever change that, but surely, an accident would be easier to bear than one of their own committing murder. Justice would repair the damage, forgiveness would heal them all.

Is this why you led me home, Lord?

The silent prayer again went unanswered, but this time James was not discouraged. Something inside him was restored, replenished. God’s silence wasn’t empty, it was comfortable—they were like old friends again, content to be in each other’s company without having to utter a word.