Page 8 of Date Night

As I stand across from Brynn’s mother, I can see the love and pride etched into her features, even amidst the sorrow. The sunlight filters through the trees, casting dappled shadows across her face, but there’s a warmth in her voice that draws me in. I’ve set my camera aside, knowing that this moment is about more than just capturing images; it’s about honoring her daughter’s memory.

“Brynn was always so full of life,” she begins, her voice steady yet laced with emotion. “She was involved in everything—drama club, cheerleading, you name it. She lit up a room.” Her eyes glisten with unshed tears, but she presses on, clearly proud of the girl who was once her whole world.

I lean in, wanting to soak up every detail. “What was she like growing up?” I ask, my voice gentle.

Her mother smiles, a bittersweet expression. “She was adventurous. Always pushing boundaries, wanting to explore. I remember her first bike ride without training wheels. She just took off, wind in her hair, yelling at the top of her lungs. I thought I’d never catch up!”

A pang of nostalgia hits me, and I can’t help but think of my own rebellious spirit, the nights I spent sneaking out against my mother’s wishes. I swallow hard, pushing the memory to the back of my mind. This isn’t about me.

“She sounds amazing,” I reply, trying to keep my voice steady. “What happened after she started hanging out with the wrong crowd?”

The shift in her mother’s expression is palpable. “It was gradual at first. Just little changes, her friends shifted from the good kids to ones I didn’t know. I tried to intervene, but she wouldn’t listen. You know how teenagers can be.” There’s a slight tremor in her voice, a vulnerability that cuts through me.

I nod, feeling the weight of her words. “How did you cope when she went missing?”

The question hangs in the air, heavy and suffocating. I can see the pain wash over her, the memories flooding back. “It was a nightmare. Days turned into weeks, and the uncertainty was unbearable. Every time the phone rang, my heart would stop. I never thought I’d lose my little girl.”

Her voice breaks, and I feel that familiar ache in my chest. I remember the times I pushed my own mother away, the moments I thought I knew best. I can’t help but feel a sharp pang of regret for those days, for the reckless decisions I made that might have hurt her.

“What do you want people to remember about Brynn?” I ask, shifting the focus back to her daughter, desperate to honor her memory.

She takes a deep breath, collecting herself. “I want them to remember her laughter, her spirit. She was so much more than what happened to her. She deserves to be remembered for who she was, not just for this tragedy.”

As she speaks, I can see the strength within her, a determination to keep Brynn’s memory alive. I admire that resilience, but it also amplifies my own feelings of loss. I miss my mother more than I care to admit, the weight of her absence pressing down on me like a heavy blanket.

“I promise we’ll make sure Brynn’s story is told,” I say softly, my voice thick with emotion. The connection between us, forged in shared pain and love, lingers in the air.

In this moment, surrounded by the shadows of Lover's Bluff, I realize that while the past can haunt us, it can also remind us of the love we carry forward. And Brynn’s mother? She’s a beacon of that love, determined to keep her daughter’s spirit alive amidst the darkness.

The interview is short but I manage to get a lot of good material.

While the victim's mother is telling her story it's not lost on me that everyone is rapt. Their attention solely on the woman. I knew this was a good idea but I'll admit I was concerened about how this would come across to the public. It was true what Braylon said earlier. This is about telling the victims story just as much as it is telling the story of the Date night killer. I can only hope that somehow this will give those left behind some peace.

Chapter 5

Starla

The interview was exactly what we needed to put a spark into everyone. By the time we got back to the library production is in full swing. I'm proud of what we've done today even if it brought up some horrible memories of my own experiences.

When I lost my mother, I knew that I'd miss her forever, but I never realized just how many little situations would remind me of her.

Being there with Brynn's mother brought up some guilt for me. I can't say I was the best child. Of course, I respected my mother, but there were points when I was a teenager when I know I made things hard for her.

"You're going to burn yourself out before you have a chance to do anything." Pete says, standing next to me.

I jump slightly. I didn't even hear him walk up. He's right though. I can feel the strain in my eyes. I've been staring at this screen for too long. "I just want to make sure all the images we got today are good."

He places his hand on my shoulder and internally I cringe a bit. Something about Pete seems off to me but I'm not sure if it's something I should be worried about or not.

"It was great. You really have an eye for this. But you can't try to do everything in one night. That's not going to be good for anyone."

I nod and push back from the desk. He's right. I know I have a deadline, but I want to make sure this documentary is a good quality, not just quickly done. "You're right. I should head home for the night. Where is everyone else?"

I look around the nearly empty library. I didn't even realize that it was so quiet. I was lost in my own world.

"It's just you and me. Everyone else already went home for the night. Do you know how long you've been sitting here?" He chuckles and takes a step back. Maybe he realized he was making me uneasy. Either way, I'm grateful for the space.

"A few hours, I guess from the way my head is pounding." I joke right along with him.

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