Chapter 16 - The Deal Allison Refused
I saw Allison again eighteen months after party.
By accident.
Grocery store.
She stopped.
I did too.
For three seconds, neither knew protocol.
Then:
“Hi.”
“Hi.”
She looked healthier.
Shorter hair.
No office clothes.
“I work at a nonprofit now.”
I had not asked.
“Okay.”
“Sorry.”
“For telling me?”
“For making everything about proving I changed.”
That was unexpectedly self aware.
We stood beside frozen vegetables.
She said:
“I almost didn’t give you key.”
“I know.”
“Brent told me if I helped, he’d pay my debt.”
“What debt?”
“My mother’s medical bills.”
There.
I had never known.
“He paid six thousand.”
“Yes.”
“Did you return?”
“Prosecutor made restitution arrangement. I paid back what was considered proceeds.”
“Good.”
“He offered more.”
“When?”
“Before party.”
“What for?”
Allison hesitated.
Then:
“To sign statement afterward saying you agreed.”
My stomach tightened.
“Did you?”
“No.”
“That’s why key?”
“Yes.”
“He said after you signed documents, I’d get another fifteen thousand if I said you planned the stunt.”
“That explained guest story.”
She shook.
“I realized he needed lies before anything even happened.”
“Why still latch door?”
“Because I was afraid and selfish.”
I appreciated no excuse.
“Why call 911?”
“When you screamed my name.”
We both went silent.
“You made it impossible to pretend I was just watching.”
That was exactly why I did it.
“Allison.”
“Yes?”
“I don’t forgive you.”
Her eyes filled.
“I know.”
“But I believe you helped save me after helping put me there.”
She nodded.
“That’s fair.”
We walked away.
No friendship.
No hug.
No redemption montage.
A human encounter.
Later that day I thought about naming witnesses.
At the yard, I screamed their names to make them visible.
Allison carried visibility for rest of her life.
So did Scott.
Kevin.
Me.
May you like
Naming did not only accuse.
It forced everyone to choose what to do next.
