Page 106 of This I Know
I don’t realize that I’ve fallen asleep against his warm, safe body until I’m awakened by the crackling of police radios. I open my eyes. There are four police officers lingering about, and they all look at me with concern. The questions pour out of them in a never-ending flow of words.
“Ma’am, what’s the last thing you remember? …And then what happened? Do you have any idea who did this to you? Is anyone out to hurt you?”
At that, Ethan interrupts, “There was an incident with a couple of kids from our school about a week ago. I gave the police all the information they needed, and it was reported. I wastoldthis place would be under surveillance since then. What happened to that? Jesus, if I’d known it wasn’t–”
The cop barely looks up from his palm-sized notepad. “I’ll have to look into that. Mr…”
“Harrington.”
“Cole Ebbs.” My mind hurts, and it’s hard to concentrate on what everyone is saying, but I finally say the name loudly, clearly. I want there to be no mistake. I want them to catch him and give him the punishment he deserves, just like they did to Ethan’s father.
Everyone in the room looks at me.
“That’s who did this to me,” I explain. “Cole Ebbs.”
At the sound of Cole’s name, Ethan’s hand clenches into a fist and the flesh grows white.
The officer continues scribbling, then stops briefly to make a call on his radio.
Ethan and I stand close to one another, my arms crossed and tightly holding that blanket around me that Ethan placed over my shoulders.
While the officer is still on his radio, I turn to Ethan. “I need to call my mom.”
He nods.
He hands me his phone and I dial my mom’s number tentatively. It’s going to break my heart to give her this kind of news. This is the last thing she needed. Hell, God knows it’s the last thingIneeded. But I’m worried she’ll feel like we’re be back at square one in regards to my healing. She might say it’s time for me to get back into therapy, even physical therapy, if need be, just to make sure I stay on track.
I bet the first thing that’ll come to her mind will be something along the lines ofHow in the world could something like this happen again?
And I’m afraid I won’t have an answer for her.
My hand starts to shake as I bring the phone up to my ear. I wrap my other arm around my center. “Excuse me,” I say to both Ethan and the cop. I head toward the corner of the living room for a bit of privacy. The ringing echoing in my ear is repetitive and torturous, too loud for my nerves to handle comfortably after what just happened.
In the middle of a ring, she picks up. “Hi, dear,” she says. Her voice is cheerful but hurried. Probably busy at work, as always. “I’m so sorry. I’m just getting out. I thought I would have to stay until nine thirty, but Sarah called at the last minute and she was able to cover for me.” On her end, I can hear the sound of wind whipping by the speaker.
“Mom,” I say. I’ve got to keep my voice calm.
“Yes.”
I hesitate, looking around. I can’t do this over the phone. I thought I could, but I can’t. She needs to be here to see for herself that I’m actually okay, that I’m not hurt, and that it’s not as bad as it sounds. Otherwise she’ll freak herself out.
“Mom, come home,” I say. “I just need you to come home now.”
“Why, what’s wrong?”
“Something happened, but I’m okay. Everyone’s okay and I don’t want you to worry. Do you hear me?”
The wind whips harder. “What? You don’t want me to worry? Avery, what happened?”
“Just please come home. I’ll tell you everything when you get here. Okay?”
“Are you alone? Is there at least someone there with you?” There’s contained panic in her voice.
“Ethan’s here with me.”
No need to mention the police officers just yet. She’ll discover that little surprise for herself when she arrives.
“Good. Then I’ll be there as soon as I can. I love you, Avery.”
