Afterlight ✔️

chapter fifty-seven

— Jay Bieber

There was a time before her, but I can't seem to remember what my life was like before I met Chloe Romano. Before her, I was just existing, going through the motions of a life I barely cared about. But now, every moment feels like it's filled with her — her presence, her voice, her scent. The way she looks at me, like I'm more than the man I've become, makes me want to be better.

I woke up to the smell of coffee and something sizzling on the stove. Chloe was in the kitchen, moving around quietly, probably thinking I was still asleep. I stayed in bed a little longer, letting the sound of her soft humming fill the room. It was peaceful, and for once, I felt like we had found a small piece of normal, away from the chaos.

But that peace shattered the second we heard loud, insistent banging at the door. My heart skipped, and the sudden tension in the air made me sit up. I threw off the covers, already on edge. Who the hell was knocking like that?

"I'll get it," I said, pushing myself out of bed, quickly pulling on a shirt as I made my way to the door. Chloe peeked around the corner, her brow furrowed.

I swung the door open, not expecting what I saw on the other side — two cops, standing with cold, blank expressions, hands resting on their belts.

"Justin Bieber?" one of them asked, voice low and serious.

I swallowed, trying to keep calm. "Yeah, that's me."

"You're under arrest for the murder of Brad Romano."

For a second, I thought I heard wrong. My chest tightened, and my hands clenched into fists. I opened my mouth to protest, but before I could say anything, one of the officers grabbed my arm, twisting it behind my back, while the other started reading me my rights. I yanked my arm, trying to shake them off, but they were already locking the cuffs around my wrists.

"What the fuck?!" I shouted, my pulse racing as I tried to pull free. "Get the hell off me! I didn't do anything!"

"Justin Bieber, you're being placed under arrest for the murder of Brad Romano," the cop repeated, his voice cold and detached, as if this was just routine for him. "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed to you."

From behind me, I heard the sound of feet rushing towards the door. Chloe. I could already imagine her wide-eyed, panicked look as she ran toward the door.

"What's going on?!" Chloe's voice was frantic, and I twisted my neck to catch a glimpse of her, standing at the doorway in her pajamas, her hair messy, face pale with shock.

One of the officers tightened his grip on me, holding me in place as they continued reading my rights.

"He hasn't done anything wrong!" Chloe yelled at the cops, stepping forward, her fists clenched at her sides. Her voice was sharp, cutting through the morning air. "I'm Chloe Romano, Brad's sister! I would know if Justin was the one who killed my brother!"

The officers paused, glancing at each other before one of them hesitated and looked at her apologetically. "Miss Romano, we understand, but this is standard procedure. We have orders to take him in."

I locked eyes with Chloe, my throat tight, my heart pounding in my chest. She was holding it together, her expression strong and unyielding, but I could see it in her eyes — the fear, the anger. She wasn't crying, though. Not this time.

Her voice was firm, steady. "You'll be out soon," she said, her eyes locked on mine. "Everything's going to be okay. I'll fix this."

I wanted to believe her, but as the cops dragged me toward the squad car, I couldn't shake the sinking feeling in my gut. How the hell did this happen?