Chapter 41
Chapter Forty-One
Gabbi
I knew Bobby wouldn’t like the idea the second I said it.
"We should take him back to the park."
The words barely left my mouth before his entire body tensed. He was standing by the kitchen counter, pouring coffee, but I knew I had lost his attention. His jaw clenched, his grip tightening around the mug. "Gabbi," he said, his voice low, warning.
I exhaled, leaning against the opposite counter, my arms crossed. "I know it sounds crazy. But just listen to me for a second."
Bobby shook his head, setting his mug down with a dull thud. "You want to take Liam back to the place where he was taken? Do you have any idea how?—"
"Yes, I do," I interrupted, stepping closer. "I know how hard it will be. But Bobby, he's been living with that memory for six years. It owns him. And if we don’t help him face it, it always will."
Bobby ran a hand over his face, exhaling slowly. He didn’t argue right away, which meant I was getting through to him. "What if it makes it worse?" he asked, his voice quieter this time.
I hesitated, because I didn’t have a perfect answer. "Then we’ll be there for him. We won’t force him to do anything, but if there’s even a chance this helps him heal, don’t we owe it to him to try?"
Bobby sighed heavily, staring at the dark liquid in his mug like it held the answer.
"Talk to him about it," I added. "If he doesn’t want to go, we drop it. No pressure."
Bobby was quiet for a long moment before finally nodding. "Alright," he murmured. "We’ll ask him."
That was the first step.
Liam sat on the couch, scrolling through his phone when we brought it up. His immediate reaction was exactly what I expected—hesitation.
"The park?" he repeated, his voice careful, guarded.
Bobby and I sat across from him, both of us watching his reaction. "Only if you want to," Bobby said. "Gabbi thinks it might help, but it’s your call."
Liam set his phone down, tapping his fingers against his knee. His shoulders were tense, his jaw tight, but he wasn’t shutting down. That was progress.
I leaned forward slightly, keeping my voice gentle. "You don’t have to decide now. Just think about it. If it’s too much, we won’t push."
Liam didn’t speak for a long moment. Then, finally, he exhaled. "I’ll go."
I blinked. Even Bobby looked surprised. "You sure?" Bobby asked.
Liam nodded, his fingers curling into his hoodie. "I think… I think I want to see it again."
That was the second step.
When we arrived at the park, Liam froze at the entrance.
I felt Bobby tense beside me, his hand hovering like he wanted to reach for his brother but wasn’t sure if he should.
Liam’s breathing had slowed, his gaze locked on the playground in the distance, on the bench near the fountain, on the tree that had once been our favorite spot.
My heart clenched as I watched his fingers tighten around the sleeves of his hoodie, his shoulders curling inward slightly like he wanted to make himself smaller.
"It’s okay," I murmured. "You don’t have to do anything. Just breathe."
Liam exhaled shakily but didn’t move.
Bobby reached out, placing a steady hand on his shoulder. "We’re right here," he said. "You’re safe, Liam. No one’s ever going to take you again."
Liam swallowed, his throat bobbing. He looked at Bobby first, then at me, and something in his expression shifted. It wasn’t fear, exactly. Just uncertainty.
I forced a small smile. "Wanna get some ice cream?"
Liam blinked, caught off guard, and I watched as the tension in his shoulders loosened just slightly.
"There’s still an ice cream stand here?" he asked, his voice quieter than usual.
I nodded. "Same spot as before. We can go sit under the tree afterward."
Liam hesitated, then gave a small nod. "Okay."
That was the third step.
Walking through the park felt surreal. The last time the three of us had been here together, Liam had been eight years old, full of energy and laughter, running ahead of us without a single worry in the world.
Now, he walked cautiously, his hands in his pockets, his gaze shifting from one side of the park to the other like he was waiting for something to feel wrong.
But nothing did. Parents sat on benches, chatting.
Kids ran around, their laughter filling the air.
A couple of teenagers rode past on their bikes, music playing softly from a speaker.
It was normal. Safe. Just a park.
Bobby got our ice cream while Liam and I sat under the same tree we had always loved.
The bark was rough against my back as I stretched out my legs, glancing at Liam beside me.
He was quiet as he ate his ice cream, his gaze flickering toward the playground.
I followed his eyes, my chest tightening as I realized he was watching a boy—probably about eight years old—running toward the swings, his arms spread like he was pretending to fly.
The sight of it must have triggered something, because Liam suddenly tensed again.
I nudged his knee with mine. "What are you thinking about?"
Liam hesitated before licking the ice cream off his spoon. "I don’t know. It just looks... different."
I tilted my head. "Different how?"
Liam frowned slightly, watching the kids play. "Smaller. Happier. Like it’s not the same place."
I smiled softly. "Because it isn’t."
Liam finally looked at me.
I reached out, placing a hand over his. "This place doesn’t belong to fear anymore, Liam. Not if you don’t let it."
He stared at me, his throat working like he was struggling to say something. Then he glanced at Bobby, who was watching us quietly, his own ice cream untouched in his hand. Bobby nodded once, firm. "It’s just a park, kid," he said. "And you’re safe now."
Liam let out a slow breath and nodded.
That was the fourth step.
The tension finally broke when Bobby challenged Liam to a soccer game. At first, Liam refused, shaking his head like it was ridiculous, but then Bobby stole his ice cream right out of his hands, taking a massive bite.
"You mother—" Liam lunged for him, eyes wide with betrayal, but Bobby was already laughing, holding the ice cream out of reach.
Gabbi grinned, pushing herself up off the ground. "Sounds like we need to settle this the old-fashioned way," she said. "A game. You win, you get revenge."
Liam narrowed his eyes. "What do I get if I win?"
Bobby smirked. "Bragging rights."
Liam rolled his eyes. "Not worth it."
Gabbi shrugged. "Fine, guess Bobby gets to eat your ice cream then."
Liam cursed under his breath before shoving himself up. "Fine. But I better get an actual prize if I win."
Bobby chuckled, tossing the ball to him. "Alright, kid. Show me what you got."
That was the final step.
By the time the sun started setting, we were all exhausted. Liam’s hair was a mess from the wind, his hoodie stained with grass, and his face still slightly sticky from the stolen ice cream incident. But he looked... lighter. Like something inside him had shifted.
As we walked home, Liam walked between us. I felt Bobby’s fingers brush against mine before he intertwined them, his grip warm and sure.
Liam suddenly sighed dramatically. "I can’t believe I lost that game."
Bobby smirked. "You suck at soccer."
Liam shot him a glare before glancing up at me. "And you didn’t even help me!"
I laughed, swinging our joined hands slightly. "Hey, you were doing fine on your own."
Liam huffed but smiled, and I knew—we had taken the first real step toward healing.