Page 24 of What Comes After

Not my parents.

Not the officer.

Not the lines I needed to study and rehearse.

Only Devyn mattered.

Just her.

“Where is she?” I asked, my throat tight and my voice strained.

“She’s still in her home,” he answered. “We’re working on getting her extended family here to be with her, but that’s going to take some time. If you think it might help—”

The officer didn’t say another word, because I’d started moving toward the door. I shoved my feet into my sneakers there and didn’t even consider taking the time to grab a jacket before I flung the door open and walked out.

Get to her.

That was the only thought in my mind.

I ran across the street and right up to the front door. Without knocking, I yanked the door open and went inside.

An officer put a hand out to stop me, but I said, “I’m here for Devyn.

I didn’t know what I thought I’d find when I got here, but what I saw wasn’t it. This was just another instance of not expecting the unexpected.

By the time I came around the corner and stepped into the room, all I saw was my best friend curled up into a ball in the middle of the floor as several officers stood around her, doing nothing.

I ignored every single one of them, moved toward her, and got down on the floor. Placing one hand on her shoulder, I leaned my head down and whispered in her ear. “Devyn.”

That was all it took.

Devyn’s body was wracked by sobs. I gathered her up in my arms, pulled her into my lap, and held on tight to her.

Rocking her in my arms, I rasped, “I’m so sorry, Devyn. So, so sorry.”

She didn’t respond with words. She merely burrowed her whole body deeper into mine. I happily took it.

Whatever she needed to get through this, I was going to be there to give it to her.

I didn’t know how much time had passed. Quite frankly, I didn’t really care. If I had to sit here for the next three weeks to give Devyn the comfort she needed, then that’s what I was going to do.

Eventually, she loosened her hold on me, but still kept her forehead pressed tightly against my neck. “They’re gone, Theo. I’ll never see my parents again.”

For as long as I lived, I’d never for the sound of her voice in that moment. She was utterly broken, and I was convinced she might not ever be the same.

All I could do was tighten my hold on her as I replied quietly, “I know. I’m so sorry about that, Devyn. Whatever you need, whatever it takes, I’m going to be here to get you through this.”

“What am I going to do?” she asked me.

I took a moment to consider the answer to that question. I wasn’t sure I had a very good solution for her, but what I came up with was all I could think to say. “I don’t know, but I promise you we’ll figure it out together.”

Whether or not Devyn believed me remained to be seen, but there wasn’t a doubt in my mind that I’d pull out all the stops to fulfill that promise to her.

* * *

Devyn

Four months later

---