Mother's True Love.

Bystander

Emily met Alex at their favorite café, a small spot nestled between two towering buildings, where the aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the sweet scent of pastries. She sat down across from him, her heart still heavy from her recent encounter with Sarah.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Alex asked, concern etched on his face as he took a sip of his coffee. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

Emily took a deep breath, her fingers nervously tracing the rim of her cup. "I went to see one of Jules' friends," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "Her name is Sarah, and I thought she could help me understand what happened to Jules."

"Sarah?" Alex raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. "What do you know about her?"

"She was Jules' best friend, but from what I've gathered, she didn't really do anything when the bullying started. I think she was just... there, you know? It's like she was too scared to speak up, but she always accompanied Jules when no one else was around."

Alex nodded, understanding the complexity of the situation. "And how did your visit with her go?"

"It didn't go well," she said, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "She wouldn't even listen to me. I tried to explain that I was back, that I wanted to understand, but all she did was blame me for leaving."

"That's tough," Alex replied, his brow furrowing. "But I get it. She probably feels abandoned, like you chose to walk away from everything."

"I know, but it's infuriating! She's acting like she was the perfect friend. I found out she was there the whole time! I saw a photo of her sitting with the bullies. It's like she was scared to speak up, but she still sat there!"

"Yeah, that's a tough position to be in," Alex said, nodding slowly. "Fear can be paralyzing. But it also means she might know more than she's letting on. Maybe she feels guilty too, you know? It sounds like she was there for Jules when no one else was, even if she didn't stand up to the bullies."

Emily sighed, running a hand through her hair. "But how do we get through to her? If she's feeling guilty, she's just going to shut us out. We need her to open up, to talk about what really happened."

Alex thought for a moment, his eyes scanning the café as if searching for answers in the busy crowd. "What if we approached it differently?" he suggested. "Instead of coming at her with accusations or expectations, we could try to connect with her first. Show her that we're not here to blame, but to support her."

"How do you propose we do that?" Emily asked, intrigued.

"We can start by reaching out through social media," Alex explained. "Comment on her posts, like her photos. Build some rapport. We can show her that we understand she was scared, that it's okay to feel that way. Once she feels more comfortable, maybe she'll be willing to talk to us."

Emily nodded, considering his words. "That makes sense. If we approach it gently, maybe she won't feel so threatened. But we have to be careful. I don't want to push her away again."

"Exactly," Alex agreed, his tone earnest. "And we should also keep looking for evidence. The more we uncover about what happened, the more we can help her understand that she isn't alone in this."

Emily's mind raced with possibilities. "Maybe we can find others who were close to Jules or who witnessed the bullying. If we can gather their stories, it might encourage Sarah to come forward with hers."

"Right! And who knows? Maybe Sarah isn't the only one who feels guilty. If we can show her that she's not alone, it might give her the courage to share what she knows."

As they continued to discuss their plan, Emily felt a flicker of hope ignite within her. This might be the turning point they needed. If they could get through to Sarah, maybe they could finally start unraveling the truth behind Jules' tragic end.

"Let's do it," Emily said, determination washing over her. "For Jules."

Alex smiled, raising his cup in a toast. "For Jules."

With a renewed sense of purpose, they set their sights on Sarah, ready to peel back the layers of pain and guilt that had kept her silent for far too long.