Red Ribbons on Her Wrists

Can anyone really be free?

It's been several months since that fateful interview, I haven't slept or ate much at all. I don't know what to do with myself. I haven't seen Landon or Thalia since but I have feeling that they have moved on, maybe they're finally at peace. I'd like to think so at least. I did exactly what Landon asked me to do, I went the police, with the tapes and the teeth. Mr. James was arrested that day, he actually tried to blame Abe, but he was already in a holding cell for incest and rape. Kyle was arrested too, turns out that girl he raped reported him, he was cleared but when his own voice betrayed him he finally got his justice. I've met and interviewed Ryan, poor kid. He's got to live in the shadow of what his brother has done. He said he supposed that's why he felt so close to Thalia, they both had to stand behind someone who was publicly loved but behind closed doors was a real monster. I wish I could move on from this but I can't.

I no longer live in their space, I haven't since the day I turned those teeth and tapes into the police. I miss them, it's odd. I didn't know them long but I feel like I got to know them well, and I miss Landon's smile and Thalia's hair, I miss his warmth and her strength my mom says it's because I really need both. I can't really deal with the effect of my cause, three men are now in jail, three families are now torn apart. I know each man deserved his sentence, no one believes that more then me. I went to their individual trials, I listened to their sides and it only reinforced everything I had believed. Mr. James was a horrible man, he was greedy and he didn't care for his daughter in the least. He went to his cell bellowing how he helped the world and she was evil, that Landon was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Abe was a very sick individual, he was raised by parents who thought he could do no wrong, he saw at an early age his parents dehumanize his sister, and I believed he loved her but got very confused about what kind of love he had for her. Kyle was a bad kid who also had parents who thought he was made of gold, it only helped to further his beliefs that he deserved what ever he wanted and when someone said no, he took what he wanted. They will all serve their time, but I don't know if they'll ever be free.

The Youngs will never be free, they had only Landon and now he's gone. I've talked to them, his mother is reassured that I got him justice and he's happy with Thalia. His poor father though, I don't think I've ever seen such sad eyes in my whole life, nor do I think I ever will again. Thalia's mom lost her daughter, which didn't bother her much, then her husband and son within hours of each other. She's lonely and bitter. She talks to no one, trapped in her new trailer because she sold the house for lawyer fees. Good riddance.

I'll dream about this forever, it'll haunt me for life, I haven't told a soul about the interview except my mom and Landon's parents and I until I started writing this I never thought I would. I feel better but I don't feel free. I think I'll always be tied to them, all of them with a red ribbon around my wrist.