around my dad’s eyes and the way he would look at their checkbook every month. There wasn’t enough money to pay all the bills every month. But did they ever tell me I couldn’t dance? No. I took advantage of being an only child. Every spare cent and more went to me and my dreams.”
I pull Bre closer to my side, trying to calm her. I can tell that she needs my strength to get through this story.
“Caston, my parents lost their lives because of me.”
Shaking my head, I run my thumb along her jaw. “I’m sure that’s not true, Bre.”
“It is, Cass.” Tears start streaming down her face. I lean in to kiss them away, but she withdraws from my embrace, getting up to pace the room.
“It was my senior year of high school. I lived at school or the studio. Only four weeks before graduation, I had a rare night off. However, I begged my parents to take me to the studio on the way to the store, so I could get in a few extra classes. They hesitated, knowing extra classes meant more money, but like I said earlier, they never said no to me. Me and my selfish ways. We all should’ve been home eating dinner together, catching up with one another, but no, I insisted they take me to the studio. We got to the hill just before the studio, and it started to rain. When they dropped me off, I ran into the studio, never looking back at them when they drove away.”
She stops walking and hides her face in her hands, sobbing into them. I immediately walked over to her, wrapping her in my arms. Holding her for a while before her tears slow. Lifting her chin to look up at me, I wipe her puffy eyes. Helping her back to the couch, I draw her onto my lap. She immediately curls into my neck before taking a shuddering breath to calm herself down.
Finally, she goes on, “It was about forty-five minutes before they were supposed to pick me up when there was commotion outside of the dance room. The teacher stopped class and went to investigate. When she came back in, she looked like she’d seen a ghost. She came over to me, taking me in her arms before she broke down crying. I had no idea what was going on, but my stomach started churning when I saw the police officers in the door way. My legs gave out from under me and my teacher and I sunk to the floor. I knew they were gone. They were gone, and I never said goodbye or that I loved them. I just ran off into the studio. Caston, I never even looked back. How could I have been so horrible? They should still be alive.”
I tighten my arms around her. Lightly stroking her back, I kiss the top of her head repeatedly. My poor girl for keeping this in for so long. I wonder if she ever talked to anyone about that night before now.
“The rain made them lose control. They spun into oncoming traffic and into the path of a semi. They died immediately. I have no family, Caston. My parents were only children, and so was I. My grandparents are dead, so I was immediately an orphan. My teacher talked with the cops and social services. She took me in until I graduated. From that moment on, I spent every waking moment trying to become a professional dancer, so all my parents’ hard work wouldn’t go to waste. I almost lost my will to go on when I was with Mark, but since I’ve been with you my life has turned around. I thought I could finally make it for them.”
“And you will, Bre. They’re still with you. Every time you do something amazing in life, they’re smiling down on you.”
She doesn’t respond. We sit in silence for a while. I’m thankful she finally told me and that I’m able to hold her close, offering her comfort. I want her to know I’ll always be there for her.
I suck in a deep breath to calm my nerves. “Sabrina, I’m sorry about this morning,”
“Caston, shut the fuck up and…”
Our mouths collide in a needy, hasty kiss.
“Cass,” she whispers.
“Hum?”
I lean in and place a kiss behind her ear.
“I’m not upset about that kiss this morning.” She leans
I pull Bre closer to my side, trying to calm her. I can tell that she needs my strength to get through this story.
“Caston, my parents lost their lives because of me.”
Shaking my head, I run my thumb along her jaw. “I’m sure that’s not true, Bre.”
“It is, Cass.” Tears start streaming down her face. I lean in to kiss them away, but she withdraws from my embrace, getting up to pace the room.
“It was my senior year of high school. I lived at school or the studio. Only four weeks before graduation, I had a rare night off. However, I begged my parents to take me to the studio on the way to the store, so I could get in a few extra classes. They hesitated, knowing extra classes meant more money, but like I said earlier, they never said no to me. Me and my selfish ways. We all should’ve been home eating dinner together, catching up with one another, but no, I insisted they take me to the studio. We got to the hill just before the studio, and it started to rain. When they dropped me off, I ran into the studio, never looking back at them when they drove away.”
She stops walking and hides her face in her hands, sobbing into them. I immediately walked over to her, wrapping her in my arms. Holding her for a while before her tears slow. Lifting her chin to look up at me, I wipe her puffy eyes. Helping her back to the couch, I draw her onto my lap. She immediately curls into my neck before taking a shuddering breath to calm herself down.
Finally, she goes on, “It was about forty-five minutes before they were supposed to pick me up when there was commotion outside of the dance room. The teacher stopped class and went to investigate. When she came back in, she looked like she’d seen a ghost. She came over to me, taking me in her arms before she broke down crying. I had no idea what was going on, but my stomach started churning when I saw the police officers in the door way. My legs gave out from under me and my teacher and I sunk to the floor. I knew they were gone. They were gone, and I never said goodbye or that I loved them. I just ran off into the studio. Caston, I never even looked back. How could I have been so horrible? They should still be alive.”
I tighten my arms around her. Lightly stroking her back, I kiss the top of her head repeatedly. My poor girl for keeping this in for so long. I wonder if she ever talked to anyone about that night before now.
“The rain made them lose control. They spun into oncoming traffic and into the path of a semi. They died immediately. I have no family, Caston. My parents were only children, and so was I. My grandparents are dead, so I was immediately an orphan. My teacher talked with the cops and social services. She took me in until I graduated. From that moment on, I spent every waking moment trying to become a professional dancer, so all my parents’ hard work wouldn’t go to waste. I almost lost my will to go on when I was with Mark, but since I’ve been with you my life has turned around. I thought I could finally make it for them.”
“And you will, Bre. They’re still with you. Every time you do something amazing in life, they’re smiling down on you.”
She doesn’t respond. We sit in silence for a while. I’m thankful she finally told me and that I’m able to hold her close, offering her comfort. I want her to know I’ll always be there for her.
I suck in a deep breath to calm my nerves. “Sabrina, I’m sorry about this morning,”
“Caston, shut the fuck up and…”
Our mouths collide in a needy, hasty kiss.
“Cass,” she whispers.
“Hum?”
I lean in and place a kiss behind her ear.
“I’m not upset about that kiss this morning.” She leans
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