ea, the first thing I wanted was a cold b

e lawn was overgrown, and the mailbox was dented. Inside, it smelled sta

t, my voice echoing

ans

hoes left behind like an afterthought. A knot formed in my stomach. I called her phone.

filed a missing

cop called me bac

, we found

Is she

emorial Park. With a Mr. Wes

. Her high school sweetheart. The one she swore was j

pond. Gabrielle was laughing, pushing a little girl on a swing. Wesley stood beside

truck and walk

riel

m her face, replaced by shock, then guilt.

here? You're not supposed t

I said, my voice flat. I loo

f between me and Gabrielle. "Hey man,

hree years, Gabby. I spend three years in the middle of the ocean,

it looks like,"

is it?" I

t a hand on my chest. "You need to

hand away. "Do

ved. She stepped right u

m alone,

ound cracked in the quiet aftern

you weren't!" she screa

gone far enough. They walked over, separating us, their voices calm b