Chapters (95)
- Front Cover
- Title Page
- Copyright
- Contents
- Video #1
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Video #2
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Thirty-Nine
- Forty
- Forty-One
- Forty-Two
- Forty-Three
- Forty-Four
- Forty-Five
- Forty-Six
- Forty-Seven
- Forty-Eight
- Forty-Nine
- Fifty
- Fifty-One
- Fifty-Two
- Fifty-Three
- Fifty-Four
- Fifty-Five
- Fifty-Six
- Fifty-Seven
- Fifty-Eight
- Fifty-Nine
- Sixty
- Sixty-One
- Sixty-Two
- Sixty-Three
- Sixty-Four
- Sixty-Five
- Video #3
- Sixty-Six
- Sixty-Seven
- Sixty-Eight
- Sixty-Nine
- Seventy
- Seventy-One
- Seventy-Two
- Seventy-Three
- Seventy-Four
- Seventy-Five
- Seventy-Six
- Seventy-Seven
- Seventy-Eight
- Seventy-Nine
- Eighty
- Eighty-One
- Eighty-Two
- Eighty-Three
- The Final Video
- Acknowledgments
- About the Author
- Back Cover
“Oh, someone mentioned that to me. I don’t know what any of that stuff means. Besides, it’s free speech.” Ron cocks his head, studies me from under his shaggy brows. “Do you want to tell me about some of the important things that have been going on? I presume that’s why you reached out. For my words of wisdom?”
It feels good to have someone listening. Really listening.
I give him a rundown of the past week or so, especially the past couple of days. The words just pour out of me. Ron is the first person I’ve told all this to—besides the police—since the accident. Everyone else was either right there as things were happening or they knew more about them than I did.
Ron listens, nodding along. His attentiveness encourages me to keep talking.
When I pause, he rubs his chin. There’s ink on his fingertips. “It has been quite a whirlwind around here,” he says. “And it sounds like you’re in the eye of it.”
“Right. But I can’t remember what happened to Chloe. And even though I was with Daniel that night, I left before it all went down. At least I think I did. Maybe I’m losing my mind. Maybe the accident did more harm than anyone realized, and I can’t remember any of the things I’ve been doing.”
“You really think that?”
“I’m starting to wonder,” I say. “I don’t know.”
Ron taps against the window, indicating the school. “This whole community is in distress. There was talk about canceling classes when Daniel’s body was found, but it was decided we’d be better off letting students come in and use the resources here. The administration has brought in extra counselors. Everybody’s raw. You are wise to stay away.”
“That’s what the school wanted,” I say. “And so did my dad.”
“An intelligent man, your father.”
“Did you know Daniel? Did he ever take your class?”
“I don’t believe so. There’ve been so many students over the years. I’m sorry to say I’m starting to forget more and more.” He rubs his chin again. “So, you really can’t remember anything of that night? Not a thing?”
“Bits and pieces, mostly from earlier at the dance. Nothing about the accident.”
“And, yet, you said your friends, Chad and…what’s the young lady’s name?”
“Hannah.”
“Right. Her father’s the lawyer, isn’t he? You just told me your two friends say Chloe was upset about something that night. And she was worried about you losing control in some way. She never mentioned anything to you about why she was so upset? I thought the two of you seemed quite close.”
“Yes. But I don’t know what was bothering her. I mean…”
“You mean…what?” he asks.