Greenridge Academy

Chapter twenty - two

"What can you tell me about the night of May 22nd, 2023? Tell me every single detail that you can remember." I'm sitting in a cold room, in a rock hard chair... with not only two men sitting and staring directly at me... but also a camera two feet from my face. Once Libbi told the officers her last name, it became WWII. It had been the second time she had met with the officer she gave her initial report to. It's been a week since Christmas. Once they got her first and last name everything started going quickly. I was called in, since I'm eighteen I was allowed to come alone. Luckily not dragging my parents into this, I honestly doubt they would be able to handle something like this — again. I tell them everything. From snooping around their house to the color of clothing Miles and Libbi were wearing that night. I told them about all the verbal and physical threats he gave me, when they asked why I didn't come forward sooner. To them, it's a no brainer. Something happens to you — to one of your friends you tell immediately. Sadly... that's not always the case. Luckily for Libbi, not enough time had passed so he can still pay for his crimes. However for me... it's been too long. Even if I wanted to come forward now — there would be no point. That's something I'll have to live with for the rest of my life.
  The second I've told them everything, they shut the camera off. I wipe my sweating hands on my jeans, trying to force my hands to stop shaking. "Don't worry..." The bald officer starts. I look over to him with a confused look. "With your initial phone call, both the stories lining up — he's dug himself a hole no amount of money can dig him out of. He'll be going to prison." He nods his head once before leaving me alone in the room. A flood of relief hits me like a truck... they believe her. They believe us. He'll never be able to do something like this again. As I walk through the station and to my car, there are endless tears streaming down my face. Happy tears for Libbi, getting the justice she deserves. But also for little fourteen year old Olivia. Who was so afraid that no one would believe her. Who was silenced by her trauma, her PTSD. They don't always win, I might not have been brave enough to stand up for myself but I was brave enough to stick up for Libbi, and that's enough to be happy about.
  Lachlan and I haven't talked at all, no rehearsing... no texting... nothing. It's been weird. Going from a timid afraid girl who hid herself from the world... to a girl who hid for no one, fell in love with the most popular boy in school, to nothing again. I don't know, I don't know anything really, and everything that's happened recently has shown that. What I do know is that I'm finally comfortable with myself. I feel comfortable doing what I want and not holding back because of my rules. I'm comfortable in my skin, and I don't hate myself for the first time in almost five years. I know I don't need anyone other than myself to keep myself afloat. I have two amazing best friends and an amazing family. Mom and dad have been getting closer, I think they've been going on dates behind our backs. Another important thing I know is that I'm in love with Lachlan Richards. I want him to know every part of me, I want to know every part of him. But I also know that it's not realistic and it never was. Over the last six days I've watched an unhealthy amount of cheesy rom-coms. Which only made the dying feeling inside my chest worse with each one. I feel like I'm losing my mind, worse and worse by each day that passes. A few nights ago my mom caught me in the greenhouse sobbing while looking at the picture Lachlan had gifted me. She gave me the most heart wrenching words I've ever heard when I told her I was losing it. She wrapped her arms around me tightly whispering into my ear. Love is patient, love is kind, love means slowly losing your mind. It had made me lose it completely all over again, when the next day I watched twenty seven dresses and heard the line. Which just made me start a mental list in my head of all the sappy movies I watched that remind me of him. The one that's been on repeat in my head for the past week is iconic honestly. But mostly I hate the way I don't hate you. Not even a little bit, not even at all." Kat hit the nail on the head with that one.
  I can't be focused on him anymore, I've decided to put it — him behind me. He will always be someone I hold in my heart, but that's all he was meant to be... and I'm okay with that. I have to be okay with that. He didn't want me anyway... not really. He never lets people touch him, I've heard things since I've met him. I've seen with my own eyes how he responds to unprovoked touching. Somehow, it doesn't matter when we had sex, it's a question I never asked about but I'm almost certain that it was because of his father. It was something he could control in his life when there's so much that he can't. I pull my phone out of my back pocket and text Haley and Libbi in our group text.