While Life Goes on

Chapter 4

Secrets

They float around us.

Meant for only two people to know.

But truly only kept with one.

“The sentences are in for the trial that rocked the small suburb of Danbury, New York. Tyson Wheeler and Samuel Gilmore, convicted murderers, were given 20 years in prison with the opportunity for parole in 5 years. The victim in this horrid tragedy, Spencer Atchison, a steeple to aspire to among his peers, he dreamed of being a neurosurgeon. Spencer was a leader at the Danbury-May Institution, where he’d been a student from Kindergarten. I’m glad to say, parents can go to sleep tonight knowing justice has been served.”

I’m not sure if it was the horrible sea swept comb over, or the words that actually seemed to have caught people’s attention, but even here in Harvey’s midtown law firm office, with no more than fifteen employees, all eye were glued to the flat screen mounted obscurely in the corner. For what seemed like eternity, no one said a word, and then chaos. Cheers and congratulations echoed throughout the office, as nearly everyone ran over to give Harvey a pat on the back.

I waited for Harvey to look over in my direction, and when he did finally catch my eye, I gave him an appreciative nod before making my escape. It was around noon, and if I hurried, I could hopefully make it to Danbury Prep before word got around of the sentences.

I was waiting at the elevator bank when I was caught.

“Hey, where are you going?” Harvey ran up behind me, catching me by surprise, making me jump.

“I was um, just heading out.”

“I figured that much, being that your waiting for an elevator. But seriously, where to?”

“I was going to head back to the school, try to beat the spreading news, and figure out what I’m going to do.”

“Honey, there’s no way you’re going to beat that news. Let me go grab my briefcase and I’ll come with you. Surprise, we have a meeting at 1:30 with Dean Meirs. I was going to tell you but you ran out too soon.”

“Oh okay, I’ll wait here I guess.”

Harvey took off running back to his office, and was back at the elevator in just a couple minutes.

Silently we rode it down to the basement-parking garage.

“What are you thinking about?”

“Nothing”

“Liar”

“I’m serious. There’s just nothing. It’s like I’m asleep, but awake. When will it get back to normal?”

“I don’t know, Bentley, I really wish I had an answer.”

Today, we would be in Harvey’s personal car. A white Cadillac CTS with sharp black accents. I didn’t feel like talking. My mind was blank, and it wasn’t like I would be able to think of anything to talk about anyways.

I saw the trees passing by in a blur, with a bridge occasionally breaking up the greenery.

“Come on Spencer. Ugg, you get ready like such a girl!” I screamed from Spencer’s Jeep.

“It’s like a forty minute drive Brat.” He said, finally hopping in the drivers seat.

We had plans to meet up with his parents at their cabin in a secluded wood not too far away.

“The point is we could be there by now.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. How did – “ Just then his phone went off, chiming the familiar tune of Beethoven’s 5th Symphony.