Page 126 of Severance

The static on the radio crackles as I start the engine. Mikah’s fiddling with his seatbelt when the host’s voice fills the car.

“…it’s clear the defense will keep insisting the evidence is inadmissible. It’ll be interesting to see how the prosecution responds. This is a really sticky situation, and the community believes families of the victims deserve justice. There’s a lot of heat online in regards to why the death penalty is dismissed in cases like these. The students are…”

Mikah reaches for the volume control to turn down the news.

My chest stiffens and lean over and I rest my head on his shoulder.

“It’s fucked up, isn’t it?” He looks at me, the blood draining from his face. The corners of his lips curl into a sad smile.

“I know. I’m sorry.”

We rarely talk about the case. I follow the news and I read the updates online, but I don’t want it to consume me like it consumed Jess. I don’t want it to dictate my life.

“What are you sorry about?” Mikah kisses me on the cheek. “Let’s go before your dad thinks I kidnapped you and calls the cops on me.”

“He would never do that.”

“Come on. You know he hates my guts.”

“No, he doesn’t. He’s just getting used to the idea of me dating the next…umm…what did Al call you? James Bay?”

Mikah tosses his head back and laughs. “Let’s go, weirdo.”

We leave the campus and jump on the interstate with our windows rolled down and music blaring from the speakers. Mikah’s hand is resting on my thigh. It’s a nice drive. Warm, windy, and scenic.

“Pull over! Pull over!” He sticks his other hand out the window and spreads his fingers to let the air breeze by.

“What, here?” I huff, stiffening in my seat.

“Yes. Here.”

I do as he says. I change lanes and we veer to the side of the road. Mikah gets rid of his seatbelt and steps out of the car. He moves through the tall grass slowly, his gaze darting around the trees edging the highway.

I put the Prius in park and round it. “What are you doing?”

Mikah swivels to face me, his eyes seeking mine. “You remember this is where you had a flat tire?” He gestures at the stretch of grass.

“Yes.” How could I forget?

“You remember you asked me about my t-shirt?”

“The Gary Oldman one? Yeah, I remember.”

The loud traffic drowns out our voices.

“You remember DK punched my number into your phone?”

My heart begins to sprint. “Yes.”

“And then he died two weeks later.” Mikah moves closer, his words lingering between us like the broken pieces of our lives.

Unable to speak, I nod in response.

“I keep thinking about it, you know.” He grasps a handful of grass and plucks it out of the ground. “About why he did it… Like he felt he was leaving and he didn’t want you to be alone.”

Emotions begin to clog my chest and I feel tears welling up in my eyes.

“That’s why he did it.” Mikah flashes his dimple at me. “That’s why he was better. Because he was going to burn too bright and too fast.”

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