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Out of the corner of my eye, I see her step beside me, the wind blowing the long white skirt she’s wearing against her legs. Her hands stay clasped together in front of her. I’ve noticed when both her hands are free, she keeps her fingers intertwined.
“What happened to her?”
Her question both surprises me and doesn’t surprise me at all. It’s natural for someone to be curious about the death of another, especially someone so young. What surprises me is how the question doesn’t hurt as much as I thought it would, and what surprises me even more is I find myself wanting to tell her. I know it’s Doe, though. For some reason, she makes me feel safe to talk about Aislin. Had anyone else asked, I know the pain would be gripping and anger that they dared to ask such a question would replace any desire to tell them.
“She was murdered,” I say then see her body jolt. “She was taken when she was thirteen. Her body wasn’t found until a few months ago.”
Doe drops to her knees beside me, keeping a foot of space between us.
“I’m so sorry.”
I look over and see her tearful eyes looking at the headstone. There’s pain on her face, as if she understands Aislin’s pain, and in a way, I’m sure she does. I don’t know if she went to her abuser willingly, not knowing what was in store for her, but I’m sure the horror she received from him wasn’t something she asked for.
Her hands rest against her thighs, for once not grasped together, and I want to reach over and grab one. I wish I could take away her pain like I couldn’t for Aislin. However, I’m not sure she would appreciate me touching her hand, so I leave mine balled into fists on my own thighs.
She looks over at me, tilting her head to the side. “Is that why you’re helping me?”
My eyes leave hers and go back to the headstone to think about her question.
“I’m an officer of the law, so it’s my duty to help people who need my help. I chose this profession to help find answers about Aislin’s disappearance. To help me findher. It’s more to me than that now, though. I feel a need to help people in similar situations, but I have to force myself to look at them purely from a professional standpoint and not let it personally affect me.” I bring my eyes back to her. “But with you, it’s different. I don’t really know why, but your situation hits closer to home. Actually, I do know why.” I stop and take a deep breath. “Aislin was beaten and raped for years.”
She sucks in a sharp breath, her bottom lip wobbling before she bites it and looks back at Aislin’s grave. Her head nods twice. There’s no need for me to say more. Doe understands what I’m saying. She and Aislin went through similar abuse.
We both sit in silence for a few more minutes before I push to stand. When I turn to reach out to help Doe up, she stands before I get a chance. Wet grass stains appear on her skirt about halfway down where she was kneeling, which is a shame because the skirt looks nice on her and I’m sure it’s ruined now. We both walk back to the truck, where I pull her door open for her. After closing it, I turn back and face the cemetery, my eyes finding the grave we just left.
“Goodbye, Aislin,” I say quietly. “I promise I’ll be back.”
I close my eyes, tip my head to the sky, and silently add, And when I do, I swear the bastard will have paid for what he did to you.
