Page 156 of Shattered

They instead spent the better part of the evening discussing Callum’s newfound success at running a restaurant and how well the tattoo shops were doing. Ms. Clemmings beamed with pride with every word that came from Callum’s lips. She also gushed over how well Sam was doing in classes, but didn’t stray too far away from safe topics.

By the time the evening was over, Sam and Ms. Clemmings had made plans for the following week to go shopping with Millie as she prepared for her sophomore year. Millie was moving out of the dorms and into her own place, and needed an abundance of things to fill the space. Sam gleefully agreed.

“She loves you,” Callum told her as they watched his mom drive off.

“She lovesyou,” Sam amended and then added, “And she is so proud of you, Callum. Did you see the way she was looking at you as you spoke? I bet she can barely get through an hour of her day without beaming about all of your accomplishments.”

He kissed her cheek, then they headed back inside to clean up from dinner.

September

“You know, you don’t have to do this,” Callum stated as he buttoned up the black dress shirt.

“I know.”

Sam was standing in their bedroom, staring into the mirror.

The bruises had all faded, and most of the scars were disappearing as well. There was still a miniscule line that hovered over her top lip from where Christian had apparently hit her when she’d tried to fight back. Callum kissed the spot daily. But more than anything, the nightmares were still there. She knew in some small part that they always would be. They weren’t as all-consuming as they had been those first few weeks after it happened, but they still lingered.

“Kristin and Micah just pulled up,” Callum said as he poked his head back into their room.

In truth, she hadn’t even heard him walk out. When she looked down at her watch, she realized she had been standing there, staring at herself for the better part of twenty minutes.

“You don’t have to do this,” Callum said again more forcefully.

“Yes, I do. I have to do it for me, and for Millie, and all the other victims.”

“He’s getting put away for a long time whether or not any of the victims speak before the judge. But I understand, and I will be there.” Callum wrapped his arms around her middle and she leaned back into him.

Four more girls had come forward over the course of the investigation into her assault. Four more girls he’d drugged and raped. Four girls whose lives he had ultimately shattered. Three of them, including Sam, had agreed to stand up and speak about the marks he’d left behind, in hopes he would receive an even longer sentence.

He had officially been convicted the previous month. Thankfully, it had been a short trial, and none of the victims had been required to take the stand. There were enough eye witnesses and blatant evidence to convict even without their testimonies. Now, it was time for sentencing.

Sam and Irene had spent the better part of each recent session going through what to say. Irene had reassured her that she could stop in the middle and walk out if needed, that she didn’t need to say anything at all, that she didn’t have to look at him, that she didn’t even have to go. But in the end, she’d decided to stand up and speak. She wanted him to see her face one last time before they locked him up for however many years. She wanted him to know that, after that day, she would never think of him again. He would be but a tiny crack in her past and nothing in her future.

When they walked out of the courtroom after it was all over, Sam and the two other girls who’d come to speak walked off to the side. They sat on a bench and laughed at a dog chasing his tail across the street. They spoke about the outcome of the football game the previous week and made bets on the possibility of their team going to a bowl game. They traded numbers and made plans for dinner a few weeks later. Then they sat without speaking for a long time, knowing they now had an unshakable bond that would last forever.

The ping of her phone made her stop just before she reached Callum.

Cass: Is it over?

Sam: Yeah

Cass: How long did he get?

Sam: Not long enough.

Cass: I’m sorry I couldn’t be there with you today. I just am not ready for that yet.

Sam: Don’t ever apologize. What about dinner this week? My place?

Cass: Definitely!

October

“Which one should I get?” Millie asked as she held up both options. Her eyes were beaming in excitement.

“I can’t decide. My vote is both.” Sam smiled as she assessed the two dresses in her hands.

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