The girls grab their treats and bounce off, giggling all the way to the backyard. Vic shakes his head, muttering, “Ain’t got no game? Our Disney trip is officially cancelled.”

I snort. “You spoil them too much for that threat to ever be real.”

He grumbles something under his breath before we step further inside, where Serena’s sitting smugly on the couch.

“Aha! Told y’all!” She shouts, shooting to her feet and holding out her hand expectantly.

Around the room, groans and grumbles fill the air as my friends and family start begrudgingly pulling out cash and sending money to her phone.

Dad shakes his head. “Nope, not believing it. Not my innocent little angel.”

I frown. “What the hell is going on?”

Serena waves a dismissive hand. “Oh, nothing. I just knew you were gonna have that freshly fuc—”

“Serena!” Kiera snaps, shooting her a glare. “Old…” She looks at Vicky, whose waiting to snap. “der. Ol-der people are in the room.”

“I don’t know ‘bout you Vicky but we’re the youngest lookin’ ones in here.” Mom says as she glares at my friends. “But what I think Rena was trying to say is… you’re glowing, Kerry. You must’ve had lots of fun in New York.” Then, she turns to Vic and winks.

I gape. “Y’all made a bet about me?”

My friends laugh, completely unbothered. “Oh, don’t be so dramatic,” Kiera says, waving me off. “So, tell us about your trip!”

I shake my head but smile as Vic and I settle onto the couch, recounting the highlights of our trip—his award show, sightseeing, the incredible food, learning more about his life. However, it isn’t long until the conversation shifts.

Gabe and Hawkins pull out their laptops while Izzy leans forward and begins in a serious tone, “We wanted to wait until you got here before we pressed publish the 911 calls because…well,” She hesitates, nervous to ask what I think she will. “We’ve never heard them, and we want your permission to listen to them with you, together.”

I blink as my pulse slows and my stomach twists. I never considered this moment, not like this. Not with all of them here, waiting, watching, and wanting to bear witness to the ugliest, most terrifying chapters of my life. The ones I barely survived.

My gaze sweeps the room, landing on my parents, on Serena and Kiera, on Hawkins, Vicky, Hudson, Izzy, and Gabe…on Vic, whose grip tightens around my hand, steady and sure.

I’ve lived with these memories alone for so long. Everyone had their suspicions, but no one truly knew the extent of what I endured because I had never spoken it aloud.

Until today.

I’m not the Kerry I used to be, so with a slow, shaky breath, I nod and whisper. “Okay, let’s listen.”

Hawkins clicks the button, and suddenly, my past comes back to life.