Chapter 51
Over the next several months, I don’t go anywhere. I don’t do anything. I lie low. I watch very little TV, and I don’t get on the internet. Eventually, the story dies down, the reporters stop hounding me, and something else in the world takes its place.
I start seeing a therapist and…healing. After a lifetime of emotions full of emptiness and darkness, I visualize the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel, and it’s a wonderful thing to visualize.
Grayson never does go to trial. He is murdered in prison. I receive the news with indifference.
I testify at Noah’s trial. He receives life imprisonment for multiple counts of crimes against humanity. Amelia does as well as her own secrets are exposed. Her daughter is safely placed with a relative.
Brynn and her family continue to be solid for me, supporting, not pushing, letting me go through everything at my own pace.
Every once in a while, I’ll text West and he’ll text back. But what I love are our Saturday night calls.
Right on time, I dial his number.
He picks up on FaceTime. “Hi, beautiful.”
“Hi, handsome.” I note his background. “Are you home?”
“Yeah, just for the night.”
Vianca’s pretty face fills the screen. “Hi, Eve! Ooh, I love your hair.”
It’s been growing, and I just got it cut pixie again and highlighted. “Thanks!”
Vianca waves. “Okay, I’ll give you two privacy.”
After she wheels away, West settles back in a recliner. “How did the GED go?”
“Oh, fine.”
“You’re turning seventeen in two days. Are you excited?”
“Yeah, Brynn and I, we’re going camping for my birthday.”
“I didn’t know you were into camping.”
“I don’t know if I am.” I shrug. “Guess I’m going to find out.”
“What else is going on?”
“Let’s see, I filed for emancipation.”
“What does that mean?”
“Well, Brynn’s parents have temporary guardianship of me. Now I’ll be in charge of my own self.”
“Ford said the two of you have been talking.”
“He’s helping me apply to sound engineering programs.” I laugh. “It’s been a busy week.”
“I’ll say.” West shifts a little, smiling. “I love how happy you are.”
“Thanks. I am.” I’m also content and working solidly toward being complete and whole. “Enough about me. What’s going on with you?”
“Well, Anne’s a pain in my ass.”
We share a laugh.
“You text with her more than you do me!” he jokes.
It’s true, I do.
“Did you hear we just signed on to do a European tour?”
“Anne told me, yeah. That sounds amazing.”
“Did you hear about Toby?”
“Anne told me that as well.” Toby got into a lot of trouble, harassing multiple girls, who came together in a law suit against him. Bus Stop replaced him with a new drummer. “Doesn’t surprise me, and I’m glad. He deserves that.”
“Agreed.”
We don’t speak for a few seconds, just look at each other, smiling.
“God, I miss you,” he says.
“I miss you, too, West.”
My seventeenth year goes by in a blur.
I apply and get accepted to a sound engineering program at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
I move into the dorm and dive into classes.
I talk every week with Brynn, who still lives on the West Coast. I also talk nearly every week with Anne, who still works as a roadie for Bus Stop.
My friendship with West continues to be a solid foundation in my life. But we haven’t seen each other in person since our goodbye at Brynn’s house.
A text comes in:
Anne: Have you seen this?!
She’s attached a YouTube link with West as the thumbnail.
I launch the link. West is on stage, a hip propped on a stool and a guitar cradled in his lap.
“…watching you in a rainy Central Park. Wondering what’s beneath your haunted eyes.
Holding your hand. Falling asleep with you in my arms. Kissing you for the first time.
For these reasons and so many more, I love you, Eve.
Always. This is dedicated to you, my one and only.
” He starts playing the song he and I wrote together, and it’s like I’ve never heard it before.
As I listen to the familiar words and notes, I become entranced, drawn in by his voice, our lyrics, and the emptiness in me only he can fill.
I take in every expression, every tone, every syllable of his voice. I drink in his gorgeousness and am overwhelmed with the urge to touch him, to kiss him, to love him. To see him again.
Gradually, the song comes to an end. I scroll down, reading the comments:
Best Bus Stop song yet.
Heard this live and it’s amazing!
West’s muse. Sigh….
Whatever happened to Eve?
She needs to put West out of his misery.
On and on I read hundreds and hundreds of positive comments. Until the last one:
Thanks, everyone, for all the great comments. Eve is not just my muse, she’s my everything. As promised, 100% of revenue generated from this song is put into a fund to assist abused children. ~xo, West
I sniff back the tears I feel coming. Assisting abused children. It’s exactly what he told me he was going to do. I reach for my phone, ready to call and tell him I want to see him, when a text comes in:
Anne: Did you watch it?
Me: Yes.
Anne: Now go open your door.
My heart bangs hard in my chest as I walk across my dorm room and open the door. West stands there, a giant bouquet in one arm and holding a Happy 18th balloon in his hand.
“Hi,” he says, smiling.
“West,” I breathe.
“Did you miss me?”
Happy tears fill my eyes. Exactly what tears should be.