Page 22 of Finish Line

“Okay, I’ll tell the doctors.” Then, she turns around and walks stiffly out the door.

“You need some clothes, let me figure that out,” Cin says and follows my mom out.

I sink back down into the bed and pull the cover over me.

About an hour later, I’m in mom’s SUV and heading home.

Mom sits in the back with me. I feel bad right now. She wants to hold me, but I can’t take that right now. Peter barely said two words to me and only frowns.

When we pull up to the house, everything looks the same, as if I haven’t been gone a month. A month in three different, dark places.

Peter opens the front door for me. “Thank you for taking care of my daughter.”

I smile and step into the living room. All that is on my mind is to get a shower and sleep.

Hannah runs around the corner. “You’re home.”

She goes to hug me but stops when she sees how I have my arms wrapped tightly around myself.

“I’m sorry I got lost in the woods and couldn’t save you like you saved me. Please forgive me.” She cries into her hands.

I sigh, so tired but still having to comfort her right now.

“You did your best, Hannah. There’s nothing to forgive,” I tell her as we walk back to our bedrooms.

“After Christmas, I’m going to go stay with my aunt who lives in Iowa on a farm. Can you imagine me on a farm?” Hannah fills the silence with her chatter. “I need some help, and Dad thinks it would be good for me.”

I smile tiredly. “Take care of yourself. I’ll talk to you before you leave.” I turn away and continue to my room.

“I’m glad you’re back,” Hannah says quietly before she heads into her room.

“Do you want some help in the shower?” Mom comes up right behind me, causing me to startle.

I shake my head and step away. “No, I can handle it. After the shower, I’m going to sleep.”

“Let me know if you need anything.” Mom walks away.

Cin gently gets my attention. “I’ll be up in Nick’s room. Call if you need anything.”

I shut my door and head right to my bathroom, stripping off the clothes Cin found and turning on the water as hot as it can go.

Stepping under the scoldingly hot spray, I let the water run down over me. I watch as all the dirt and blood run down the drain. I grab my sponge and add soap, scrubbing my body raw. I keep feeling his callous hands all over my body. I can’t stop feeling it.

Tears are pouring down my face as I slide down my shower wall to the floor, where I curl up in a ball, and everything I’ve held back comes out. I’m so numb I don’t feel the water turn cold.

I don’t know how long it is before my bathroom door opens, and Cin stands there staring down at me. “Oh, Shelby.”

She comes over and turns off the water and grabs a towel. When she tries to dry me off, though, I curl in on myself.

“Is there anything I can do?”

I shake my head. I’m not able to look at her. I still feel so dirty.

She scans the room. “It looks like you don’t have clothes again. What can I get you?”

“Something warm.”

“I’ll be right back.” She walks out the door.

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