AllFreeNovel
Share Us
And when somebody types, “Go away, dumb bitch,” there’s this super cool thing I can do.
Press delete.
Eva and Sophie have come to my place—or Skye’s place. I feel bad because Sophie had to lug her swollen self all the way here.
“You two must really be worried,” I say, ushering them inside.
“You think?” Sophie wobbles up the steps.
“Right.”
Eva holds Sophie’s back until she’s safely through the door. Then she says, “But we’re so proud of you. You’ve started a revolution.”
“What do you mean?” Out of habit, I put the kettle on the stove.
Sophie rubs her belly. “Your cast today started an important conversation about online and media bullying toward women. You’re making a better world for my little Zoey.”
I gasp. “Zoey? I thought you didn’t know if it was a boy or a girl.”
Sophie puts a hand over her mouth. “Whoops. I kind of peeked at the last ultrasound. But you can’t say a word to Lucas, okay?”
“So you’re having a girl? Oh, Sophie.” I go to her and pull her into a hug.
Then Eva hugs both of us, and we stay like this for a few seconds before Sophie says, “Okay, you guys have to let go or I’ll throw up on you.”
That does it. Eva and I scoot a safe distance away.
After Eva helps Sophie lower onto the sofa, Sophie says, “Anyway, Riley. You’ve started something big. Now you have a platform where you can move the needle. You can hold social media companies accountable for putting in more controls for cyberbullying.”
“Seriously.” Eva sits next to Sophie on the couch. “Why are any of them still allowing users to create anonymous accounts? At least in the States?”
I wander to the kitchenette and take out cups for tea. “Good point.”
Sophie shifts her body with great care. “And you know what else? I just read somewhere that cyberbullying isn’t considered a crime in most states.”
“That’s true.” Eva slips off her shoes. “Victims can only pursue a civil lawsuit, not a criminal one.”
“That is outrageous.” I put the kettle on. For the first time since all of this started, I don’t feel so alone.
“You might be able to change that, Riles,” Eva says. “That would be so awesome.”
“I hadn’t thought about it, but it would be. I was just trying to cope with my anxiety. But then it ended up helping others too.”
“Right. Because you gave a voice to so many people who don’t have one,” Eva says. “And obviously, many are going through this at some level or another. Anyway, leave it to you to turn something negative into something so positive.”
“Thanks, you two. I mean it.” I pour them each a cup and add a tea bag of ginger mango to Sophie’s and a raspberry lemon to Eva’s.
“You seem so much better.” Eva smiles. “That stress line in your forehead is gone.”
Once everyone has their cup, I say, “I am better.”
“But we’ve gotta know. What’s going on with Maddox?” Sophie raises a brow.
“We haven’t communicated much, but I hope he’s great. I really mean it. I think in some ways, I was looking for him to validate me, and that’s not his responsibility. I have to validate myself.”
Sophie’s voice is soft. “Riles, that’s a very self-aware statement, and it shows me how far you’ve come. I’m proud of you. But that said, I know he’s been calling and texting you nonstop.”
“True, but I think it’s better that he does his thing, and I do mine.” I’m not telling her or Eva how much I think about him and miss him every day.
