20 Reasons to Let Go

[ Reason Eighteen ] - Rebuilding Yourself

The letter came on Christmas Eve. Cady's mom took it from the mailbox, read the return address, and sighed. She closed the mailbox door and turned to walk back to the house.

When Cady was handed the letter, her face lit up and she raced upstairs to open it. She snatched a pair of scissors from her desk and snipped open the envelope in one, clean movement. Then she unfolded the paper inside and began to read.

Once she was done, Cady tossed the letter onto the wooden surface of her desk. She sat staring at the wall for several minutes, shocked. Refusing to believe what she had just read was true, she took the letter in her hands and read it again.

And again.

Both times it read exactly the same. But why now? Cady thought to herself, I'm already waist deep in this mess, why try to fix things now? And how in the world would them not being friends make things easier?

Gripping the letter tightly, Cady considered her options. Kendal had told her to hand over the letter to the police as a full confession, but if she did that, she would be in trouble as well, seeing as she was present the night Leyla was killed. She shook her head frustratedly; Kendal hadn't even thought this through!

There was a knock at her door and Cady's mother stepped into the room. "Sweetheart," she said, "I just wanted to check on you. What did Kendal's letter say?"

Cady leapt from her seat and forced a smile, "Nothing, Mom. You don't have to worry."

Her mother's eyebrows knit together and her mouth became a firm line, "I do if you're this jumpy over a silly letter." she told her sternly, stepping forward to take the letter.

Cady held it tightly, "Mom. Seriously. It's okay."

"Give me that letter."

"No." Cady refused.

Suddenly, her mother lunged forward, plucking the letter from Cady's hands and unfolding it to read. Cady felt her heart leap into her throat as she desperately tried to snatch it back. Then, her fingers caught the thin paper and she tugged on it, hoping to free the letter from her mother's grasp. Instead, the paper tore in two, and Cady was left with half the letter held in her left hand.

Cady watched as her mother's expression grew more and more solemn as she read her half of the letter. When she was done, her arms fell to her sides and she took a deep breath. Cady could see tears at the edges of her eyes. "Come with me." she said, giving Cady a blank stare.

Her mother turned to exit the room and started down the stairs.

Cady gulped, taking a quick glance at the torn paper in her hands. It is because of this that reason number seventeen is goodbye. The first line read, and Cady breathed a sigh of relief. Her mother had only seen the first half, and knew nothing of Cady and Kendal's kiss. It was a small victory, considering her own mother now knew she and her friend were responsible for the death of a little girl, but it was certainly something.

With one last deep breath, she placed the paper in the bottom drawer of her desk and hurried after her mother.

♦ ♦ ♦

"We want to know everything."

Cady looked at her parents, who were sitting in front of her on the couch. Her father's knuckles were white from clenching his fists, and her mother was shaking with anticipation. She said nothing.

Her father held her gaze with narrowed eyes, "Cady," he said, "You've lied to us for too long. Please, tell us what happened that night."