Authors: J A Howell
As he neared the Sample Gates at the front of campus he smiled to himself. Their twin archways not only were his favorite part of the Old Crescent, but they also were a sign that he was close to his truck. It wasn’t until he passed the limestone gates that he noticed that someone was sitting on the edge of one of the raised flower beds farthest from the gate. Their back was turned to him but he assumed it was a woman given their smaller frame that was huddled in a black leather bomber jacket. Her hood was up around her face and he could barely distinguish feminine features peeking out from the fur-lined jacket.
“Excuse me miss, did you need some help?” He called out as he came closer. He had no idea why anyone would be sitting outside in this kind of weather.
“Trey?” He paused, unable to move at the sound of her voice. Dillan stood then, walking towards him as he watched her in disbelief.
It couldn’t really be her, could it?
But sure enough, as she pushed her hood back those familiar hazel eyes stared back at him.
“Dillan…What are you doing here?” His surprise was evident in his voice as he took her in.
“I got a job offer out here, in Bloomington.” She smiled diffidently at him, “So I decided to come find you.” He didn’t understand why she would bother looking for him, much less how she had found him.
“How did you know where I was?” He asked, watching as snowflakes caught in her auburn hair.
“Luciano had told me you moved out this way. I talk to him every now and then.” He was surprised to hear this, as he and Luciano still kept in touch as well. Luciano had never mentioned Dillan in any of their conversations.
“Oh…”Trey nodded at her answer, unsure of what else to say to her. He had thought numerous times about what he would say to her if he were ever to see her again, but her presence rendered him speechless.
“I wanted to thank you.” Dillan took a step closer to him.
“Thank me? For what?” He couldn’t mask his shock at her words.
“I got the letters you left at the apartment, and I read the letter you wrote me. It meant a lot to get to read those and I just wanted you to know that I don’t think that you are a monster. I know why you lied to me, and I don’t hate you.”
“I almost got you killed, Dillan.” Trey’s voice was flat as he looked away. It was something he still hadn’t forgiven himself for.
“No Trey…it was you that kept me from being killed. If it wasn’t for what you did or the bullets that you took, I would have been lying dead on the ground. I wouldn’t have had a chance.” Dillan’s eyes followed his as she reached out a gloved hand, turning his face back towards hers.
“You still got hurt, and that was my fault.” His eyes grew cold as he stared back at her. Even as he lost consciousness, he had heard the shots. He had heard her scream before he blacked out.
“I got hurt because I chose to go back. I didn’t want to see you die. Despite my anger or confusion about you, I couldn’t let you die.” Dillan’s eyebrows pressed together as she spoke, her lips forming into a pout. Immediately he recalled her horrified expression as he was shot and their eyes locking with each other.
“You shouldn’t have done it Dillan. It wasn’t worth risking your life.” Warm tears stung Trey’s eyes as he spoke, betraying his expressionless features.
“No Trey. Despite how much you believe that you’re the villain in this story, you haven’t convinced me.” Dillan smiled warmly at him, her feature brightening as she continued.
“After everything that had happened, it made me realize that I still had a life to live. The letters you left me gave me so much comfort and finally allowed me to say goodbye to Jamie and to continue living. You think you hurt me by coming into my life, but you didn’t. You did the opposite. When I got the job offer here and Luciano told me that you were here too, I knew I had to come find you. I had to come find you because I wanted you to know you that. I wanted you to know that it was because of what you did and what you put me through that I’m able to live again.”
“Dillan…I don’t know what to say…” Trey’s eyes were still glassy with tears as he absorbed her words.
“Why don’t you start by saying you will let me take you out for dinner tonight. It’s the least I can do. Also it’s freezing out here.” Dillan laughed, reaching a hand out to him. He looked down at her outstretched hand, then hesitantly took it, still in disbelief that any of this was actually happening.
But it was. Dillan was really there tugging at his arm. As she led him across the street, and Trey found himself smiling. He found himself feeling something that he had forgotten even existed.
Hope.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
J.A Howell is an office drone by day, and a writer by night. Her love of writing took off when she was eleven years old and decided to fill a composition notebook with stories to read to her friends. Many years (and notebooks) later, not much has changed. She still loves writing and sharing her works with others. When she isn’t writing, she can often be found trying her hand at whatever artistic pursuit strikes her fancy. J.A. Howell resides in Apopka, FL with her husband and their menagerie of animal children.
You can learn more about her and her books at:
http://www.midtown-underground.com
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