Page 147 of The Sinner: James

It’s been six months since everything changed, and nothing good came out of it.

I can’t even spend time with Eve, as I said before.

She attends school here, in New York, yet we rarely see each other.

We blame it on our conflicting schedules.

Sure, there’s that––there isn't enough time to socialize with her classes, her boyfriend, and my two jobs.

But there’s something else.

As much as it pains me to admit, we no longer have that much in common, and that is the real reason we have drifted away from each other.

We’re on the phone occasionally, chatting about family stuff, but even that has lived its life and become a thing of the past.

Eventually, we let it go.

After the divorce, my father moved out of Colorado.

He got a job in San Francisco and found a new place to live.

Daria split from Nathan and moved to Boston, where she goes to school. She's found another man and lives with him.

Once in a while, she calls my mom and probably keeps in touch with my father too.

None of them want to talk to me.

Do I have regrets?

More than I can bear, but...

Had I not revealed the information James Sexton handed me, I would’ve been buried under a ton of guilt, and we would’ve lived an even bigger lie.

James knew all that.

That’s why he forced me to choose and live by my principles.

He knew full well there were two horrible situations to pick from. He did to me what I stupidly did to my mom later on.

Had I kept it a secret, I would’ve been tormented for the rest of my life, so I had to tell the truth and face the consequences.

He knew what I would choose.

He saw through me and read me like an open book.

He also wanted to teach me a lesson, and I surely learned from him, and now I know that truth has dire consequences.

I stare vacantly at the New York skyline for a few more moments before tearing my gaze away from the window.

Faint light spreads around the modest room as I turn the only lamp I own on.

Leaning back in my chair, I do a quick calculation in my head.

Two more weeks until the next paycheck.

The monthly bills are covered.

Next month’s rent is in my bank account.

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