When He Saved Me

t h i r t y - t w o

Weeks have passed since the trial, each day slowly blending into the next, a newfound normalcy settling over our lives. The celebrations have faded, but the relief of my victory still lingers, like a warm glow in the back of my mind.

I'm sitting on my bed reading when I hear a soft knock on the door. "Come in."

"Hey, Mads," Jake comes in and sits on the bed, his tone serious. "There's something I need to tell you."

My heart skips a beat, the sudden shift in his demeanor making me uneasy. "What is it?"

He takes a deep breath, his gaze steady on mine. "The other two girls from your trial... I just got news... they won Mads. Cade's been sentenced to life in prison."

A rush of emotions floods through me. "Really? That's... that's incredible!" The news hits me like a tidal wave, a sense of justice washing over me. I can hardly believe it.

Jake nods, a mixture of pride and concern etched on his face. "Hes never going to hurt or anyone else ever again Mads."

I let out a shaky breath, relief mingling with disbelief. "It feels surreal. After everything, I didn't think we'd get to this point."

Jake's expression softens, and I can see the weight of the moment settling between us. "I know it's a lot to process. Are you okay with all this?"

I nod slowly, still absorbing the information. "Yeah, I think I am. It's just... a lot to take in. I feel like I should be celebrating, but part of me is still processing everything we went through."

"That's completely normal," he assures me, his eyes filled with understanding. "You don't have to rush into feeling one way or another. It's okay to take your time."

"Thanks, Jake. I appreciate that." I pause, the gravity of his words sinking in. "It's just hard to reconcile the relief with everything we went through."

He reaches over, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze. "Just remember, you're not alone in this. I'm here every step of the way."

We sit in silence for a moment,

"Let's go celebrate," Jake finally suggests, breaking the silence that had settled comfortably between us. "We should do something fun to mark this victory. You deserve it."

"Yeah, I'd love that," I reply, feeling a spark of excitement ignite within me. "How about a beach day?"

"Perfect," he grins, his enthusiasm infectious. "I'll make sure to get everyone on board. Let's plan to hit the road in an hour."

"An hour?" I laugh, playfully raising an eyebrow at him. "You're nuts!"

"Why not?" he shrugs with a mischievous smile, already moving toward the door to gather our friends.

An hour later, our shared apartment buzzes with energy as we scramble to load up the car. The air is thick with laughter I can't help but feel a sense of warmth in my chest as I watch everyone moving around, each of us trying to make the most of this day.

As we pile into Jake's car, he rolls down all the windows, the breeze rushing in as he turns up the volume on Taylor Swift. Asher sits next to me, while Ethan, Jules, Noah, and Nicky follow closely behind in Noah's car.

As the wind tousles my hair, a feeling of peace envelops me. I glance over at Asher, who reaches for my hand. When our fingers intertwine, butterflies erupt in my stomach, and a smile stretches across my face. I steal a glance at Jake in the rearview mirror, and he catches my eye, offering a reassuring smile that seems to say everything will be okay. It's a moment of solidarity, a reminder that we've made it through the storm.