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“About Savannah’s dad!” I scream. “Did you know he’s been using her as his own personal fucking punching bag?”
“He’s been what?” His instant outrage is enough to tell me he’s been just as clueless as I have. “And how do you know this?”
I pace back and forth. “Because I just went over there to talk to her, and heard him screaming at her! There was broken glass everywhere, and she’s got a nasty cut on her forehead and his handprint on her face.”
“What are you doing here then? Why aren’t you helping her?”
“She doesn’t want me to! Not that I blame her. She has every right to hate me, but him…?” I shake my head as my fury builds. “No. He already ruined my life. He doesn’t get to ruin hers too.”
Heading toward the door, Brady calls after me. “Where are you going?”
“To find the piece of shit,” I answer. “I’m going to fucking kill him.”
THREE HOURS OF SEARCHING for the son of a bitch, and I come up empty. Wherever he is, I hope he knows what a shitty fucking person he’s become. It’s one thing to stab his best friend in the back, but to beat on his own daughter? There’s a special place in hell for assholes like him, and if I’d found him tonight, I’d have been the one to put him there.
As I’m driving home, I come across the familiar plot where the playground used to be. It’s overgrown now, but my mind immediately goes to the waterfall. The time we spent there was everything to me, and while it might be freezing outside, it may just be the one place to help me clear my head.
The path is completely overgrown, telling me that no one else has been here in a while. It isn’t until I get deep into the woods that I can hear the flow of water. Clearing out spider webs and foliage, I finally reach the opening. I step through the bush and take in the sight in front of me.
It looks the same as it did eight years ago, only older. Moss covers the bottoms of the trees, and the waterline is higher than I remember. Sitting down on one of the rocks, it’s so cold I can see my breath, but the rage inside burns so hot that I can’t feel it.
Taking out my phone, I’ve got three missed calls and seven texts from Brady. They’re all different variations of telling me to calm down and to think rationally. It’s amusing, how he thinks he has any influence on me or my actions. The reality is simple: if her father hadn’t evaded me this afternoon, he’d be rotting at the bottom of a ditch somewhere.
I roll my eyes and go to put the device back in my pocket, when it slips from my hand and slides down the rock—clanking on something before hitting the ground. My brows furrow as I reach to grab it and spot a glass bottle. It’s old, and has obviously been here for a while, but the seal seems to have remained strong. When I pick it up, I realize it’s filled with rolled up pieces of paper.
The only two people I’ve ever known to be here are Savannah and myself, and judging by the looks of it, that still rings true. I hold the bottle over one of the rocks and slam it down. The glass breaks with ease, freeing the papers inside. As I unroll the first one, I find my suspicions were right. Handwriting I’d recognize anywhere is scribbled across it.
Gray,
Where did you go? I came home from Nana’s and you were gone! Daddy said you and your family moved away. I miss you. Why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you say goodbye? Just come home. Come back for me.
Savi
I flip to the next one.
Gray,
Why haven’t you called me yet? I know you know my number. Does where you moved to not have phones? I wish someone would tell me what’s going on. I really miss you. I don’t know what to do without you. You’re my best friend, Gray. I just keep hoping one day you’ll come back.
Savi
And the next.
Gray,
Delaney told me today that your dad died. Are you okay? I wish I could be there for you. I’d hold you really close like you did for me the night of that bad storm. The new phonebook came the other day. I tried to look for your name, but it wasn’t there. If by some chance you come back here, I hope you find these and call me. I miss you.
Savi
Gray,
Things are getting scary. Daddy is acting weird, coming home all the time smelling gross and falling down all over the place. He’s started leaving me home alone a lot. He says I’m a big girl now and I can handle it, but I’m scared. I don’t know what’s going on. Why haven’t you come back yet? Why haven’t you called? Do you have a new best friend? Is it because we kissed? Because we can pretend it never happened. Just come home.
Savi
The last one is short, only three lines, but enough to raise goosebumps across my skin.
Grayson,
