Outside, Holly heard someone call her name. Ten feet away stood Nick. He waved his hand for her to hold up, then said something to his sister. When she turned, her eyes widened, and then she nodded, and Nick tenderly led his sister over to their group.

‘Hi. This is…’ but before he could make the introductions, Jersey and Rachel stepped into each other, wrapping their arms gently around the other, careful not to hurt the wounds on their backs, and sobbed together.

Helpless to do more than watch, that’s what they all did, allowing the two girls to embrace and bond over their shared horrifying experience. When they stepped back, they didn’t release each other; they simply moved so they gripped each other’s hands.

‘I’m so sorry. I heard about your—’ Rachel began.

‘I’m so sorry. I heard about your—’ Jersey said at the same time.

Neither finished their thought, but once again, they clung to each other, their words and shared nightmare connecting them.

‘Can we keep in touch?’ Jersey whispered. ‘If you’d rather not, if it’s too much of a reminder, it’s okay.’

Her eyes still full of tears, Rachel said, ‘Everything will be a reminder, at least for the time being. And yes, I think we can help each other. Did Becca and Faye stop by to see you before they left?’

Jersey shook her head, then looked over Rachel’s shoulder toward the parking garage. ‘No. But they had to sedate me a few times, so maybe they tried.’

‘I’m sure they did. They said they would. They gave me their numbers and made me promise I’d call whenever I… if I ever felt like giving up.’ Rachel turned to her brother. ‘Will you hand me my phone so I can type Jersey’s digits in?’ As Nick did as he was told, Rachel continued. ‘I wish we could’ve gotten Katelyn and Cheyenne’s information, too, but I guess their parents had them transferred to a different hospital.’

They talked for another minute, then Nick officially introduced Holly to his sister and Sophie. ‘And these are the gals I told you about, the ones who helped me change my tire.’

Rachel tilted her head to the side, her eyes appraising what she saw. ‘Thank you for helping my brother. And for being there for him lately. He needs someone, too.’

‘Anytime. I hope he knows that.’

Jersey waited until they were in Holly’s car before she spoke again. ‘So, you and Rachel’s brother, huh?’

Holly blushed. ‘That obvious, huh?’

‘Girl, it’s written all over both your faces.’

Holly chewed her cheek before angling her body toward Jersey. ‘It was only one date…’

‘Technically, it was one and a half,’ Sophie chimed in from the backseat.

‘One and a half. Does that bother you?’

‘Why would it bother me?’

‘Because I met him when… when…’

Jersey’s smile was soft but sad. ‘You met because of the circumstances. I’m not upset. I promise.’

Holly searched her friend’s eyes for any hint of dishonesty, but saw none, and a sigh of relief escaped her. She turned the key in the ignition and shifted into reverse as she backed out of her space. At the light, she asked, ‘Where to?’