Page 154 of In the Air Tonight

I reach across the table to cover her hand with mine. “I totally get it. My brother was one of his best friends. He was outraged that she would accuse him of such a thing.”

“That must’ve made it extra tough for you.”

“It did.”

“It was bad enough for me having witnessed seeing them walk toward the woods together. I can’t begin to imagine what it would’ve been like to have witnessed the actual assault.”

I shake my head. “Horrific and heartbreaking.” After a pause, I add, “I was with a friend who convinced me our lives would be hell if we said anything. She practically dragged me out of there.”

“I’m so sorry. Is she testifying, too?”

“No. She has personal connections.”

“Was it Sienna?”

“I, uh…”

“I understand. She was dating Cam then and is married to him now.”

“Right. I’ve told the prosecutor I’m speaking only for myself.”

“I understand. I’d never say anything. Don’t worry.” She takes a sip from her glass. “When I first heard you’d come forward, I was in such a state. That was the first time I told my husband what I’d seen and how it’d affected me. He encouraged me to come forward, too.”

“I’m glad you did.”

“I want you to know… Even though I hadn’t told him or anyone what I saw that night, I never stopped thinking about it or asking myself what kind of person it made me for stayingquiet when another young woman was being dragged through the mud. It haunted me.”

“Me, too, and it’s a huge relief to speak to someone who truly understands. It made me question everything I thought I knew about myself.”

“Yes, exactly that. I wasn’t raised to sit quietly in the face of injustice. I’ve been a very active volunteer at a local sexual assault resource center and with the statewide rape crisis hotline. People have complimented me for my commitment, but I’ve never felt I deserved that praise. It seems like the least I can do.”

“I volunteered in that space in the city for years. It was important, worthwhile work, but it didn’t soothe my conscience the way I thought it would. Not like finally coming forward has.”

“Reporting what I saw has been extremely cathartic.”

“But not without its consequences. I keep thinking about his wife and kids, who had a bomb detonate in the center of their lives when he was arrested.”

“You know that’s on him, not you, right?”

“Intellectually, yes. Emotionally? I feel for her and her kids. By all accounts, she’s a lovely person.”

“Who was married to a rapist who probably lied to her about his past.”

“True.”

“What do you hear about Neisy? I’ve thought of her so often over the years, but there’s nothing about her anywhere online after she graduated from high school in Virginia.”

“Houston told me she’s married to her childhood boyfriend. They have four kids and live in the Norfolk area. He’s a naval officer.”

“Oh, wow. I’m so glad to hear she’s doing well. This must’ve been a bomb for her, too.”

“It was, and at first she wasn’t sure she could be part of it. After she thought about it, she called Houston to say she was in—and she wanted the boys who signed that affidavit about her punished, too.”

“That was sickening. I dumped Brody after he told me they were doing that. I hope they all get every bit of what’s coming to them.”

We hear car doors closing outside.

“That’ll be my family coming home from dance class. I have two girls, who are seven and nine and a son who’s four.”

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