Life After by Genalea Barker

Author:Genalea Barker [Barker, Genalea]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Immortal Works
Published: 2023-02-07T00:00:00+00:00

January

School is back in session, and I have no idea how I’m going to do this. How do I get up, get dressed, and spend seven straight hours acting like a normal, functioning person? How do I even exist around people anymore? All these people who haven’t been living in a cage for the last month.

What if they talk to me? How do I talk to people anymore?

Warren offers to drive me, and while I hate the idea of him being responsible for me, I doubt I’d actually get myself there if left to my own devices.

I managed a shower this morning. I even put on clean clothes—not pajamas—and brushed my thick hair into a low ponytail. But when Warren pulls up outside, and I step through the front door, I realize I’ve forgotten shoes. I take slow, deep breaths as I change out of my wet socks and try again.

You can do this, August. You have to. It’s time.

But can I do this? Should I even try? I honestly have no clue. But Warren is waiting so patiently for me, and I owe it to him to try. He smiles as I take my seat in his Escort.

“I have a surprise for you,” he says.

“We’re graduating early and I never have to go back there?” I hold a grimace as I await his response.

“If only,” he sighs.

“Bummer.”

“I called Mrs. Higgins last week.”

“Mrs. Higgins, the guidance counselor?” My pulse quickens.

“About our schedules,” he rushes, touching my shoulder.

“Oh,” I breathe.

“We have identical schedules now.”

“Identical?”

“One hundred percent.”

Thank you isn’t a big enough word, but I say it anyway, squeezing his arm.

Warren doesn’t rush me when we get to school. We sit in his car, watching from the parking lot as students file through the front doors. Just as I clutch my backpack and reach for the door handle, resolved to get it over with, a head of blonde hair emerges from a white sedan, and I freeze.

A woman helps him get his crutches from the car, touches him lovingly on the back, then drives away. He stares at the building a moment, adjusting his crutches under his arms. Then he, his cast, and subtle headgear are off to first period.

“He’s coming back,” I whisper.

“August, I’m sorry. I couldn’t bring myself to tell you. I tried.”

My jaw clenches as I watch Seth limp inside.

“I didn’t think he’d come back,” Warren says. “I figured he’d switch to online school, or maybe test out. I never imagined he’d brave the rest of the senior year here. I still can’t believe he’s off scot-free.”

I flinch, my heart sinking into my stomach. “What?”

“You don’t know?”

I turn to Warren, searching his face for signals. “They said any trial would be months away. That I’d get a letter if I had to appear.”

“Hasn’t anyone called you? I thought they would have let you know.”

“I unplugged the phone,” I say blandly.

He nods, wearing a sympathetic smile. “I don’t blame you.”

“So what happened? What did I miss?”

“It’s all on the truck driver, Gus.

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