CHAPTER TWENTY- SEVEN
The second part of the semester felt different.
Spring break had taken a lot out of me, but it also brought a little bit of peace.
Xavier was working on getting back on the court while I was still playing polo, but I was feeling better about it.
Since Dio’s probate, Alyse, Paige, Samara, and I seemed to have gotten closer.
It was the first time I could honestly say I had friends.
Today, however, was a big day for me. While I waited for Xavier to arrive, I nervously paced through my apartment.
A feeling of warmth came over me as if Kyle was standing here watching. I stood still for a second to embrace the feeling when the sound of Xavier’s bike revved outside my window. I grabbed my keys and bag as I headed out the door. Xavier stood next to his bike, his helmet in hand.
“Get on!” he told me.
I had never ridden on the back of his bike and wasn’t sure if I should. “I can drive,” I told him.
“Or you can get on this bike. You trust me, right?”
I reluctantly moved toward him. He slid the helmet on my head. “Look good as hell,” he said to me.
He got on the bike first, then helped me get behind him. He revved up, backed out, and took off. We rode to the other side of Covana, the side where the city died and the countryside lived.
After the long ride, we pulled up to my parents’ house. I entered the code, and the gate opened. He rode up the driveway to see my parents standing there waiting. We got off the bike, and I watched as my dad and Xavier shook hands, and then he and my mother embraced.
My dad came over to me. “Are you ready?” he asked.
I wasn’t, but I knew it was time. “Yes.”
My dad led the way. “Follow me,” he said as he headed toward the side of the house.
When we reached the side, I noticed the golf cart. Xavier looked at me. “I didn’t say anything.”
“But we hear everything,” my mother added.
We all got in the golf cart as my dad took off toward the stables. We stopped. I felt like my heart did too.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Xavier whispered.
“Yes,” I mumbled.
He helped me off the cart. We walked into the stable where all the horses were housed.
When I saw Syior’s brother standing there, the first thing I wanted to do was ask questions.
However, this time was meant for Monk. I walked into his stable as they all stood on the outside.
I sat down on the loose hay beside him and stroked his face.
“I love you, Monk. I love you so much,” I started. “I know you’re tired. I know you’ve been hurting just as Kyle was, and now I—” I began to cry, “—I can let you be free. Not just for you but me too.”
Dr. Ivory entered, squatted down, and looked at me. “It will look like he’s falling asleep. He does love you, even if you don’t think he does. Sometimes we love people so much that the hardest thing to do is the best thing to do,” he muttered.
I knew he was referring to Kyle. “And you wanted him dead,” I mumbled back.
“And I regret that every day of my life. I loved Kyle just as much as he loved me, but I was too afraid. I’m sorry, Phoebe. I’m sorry.”
I tried catching the tears that spilled from me, but I couldn’t.
Dr. Ivory slowly injected Monk while my head rested on him until his last breath.
It hurt to let him go, but this was a moment that I needed to let Kyle rest. The truth was I would never know if it was in fact me who pulled the trigger on Kyle or if he had done it himself, but either way, my brother was finally free.
I cried on Monk until I felt my body being lifted from him.
I wiped my eyes to see my mother standing in front of me.
She said nothing as she pulled me into her arms and held me tightly.
“I’m so proud of you, Phoebe, I am.” She cried.
“Your father told me everything, and no matter what, you and Kyle are my babies. I would choose both of you, no matter what. I’m just torn because I didn’t see it sooner. Let’s heal, sweetheart.” She finished.
My mother and I stood there and cried together for a few more moments before she released me. I glanced up to see Xavier standing there waiting.
I hugged him as he kissed my forehead. “I’m proud of you,” he whispered.
I gave him a weak smile, but deep inside, I was happy because moving forward is what I needed.