So Many Reasons Why by Missy Johnson Page A

have
my dad talk to me than shell out money for an apartment. He lived less than ten
minutes away, yet he can’t find the time to visit?
    I listened to Simon with interest. Hearing him talk about
his work and his cases reinforced for me why I was doing this course, and why I
needed to work past my agoraphobia. How could I help other people if I couldn’t
help myself?
    “What’s the case you're working on now?”
    “A murder.” He thought for a moment. “Not unlike the first
case you've covered, but this girl wasn't so lucky.” Simon paused as I laughed
aloud. If only he knew the number of times I wish he had killed me.
    “You think the girl in my first case study was lucky?” I was
incredulous. My mind fought my heart to control my emotions. He didn't know it
was me. Of course escaping murder would seem like a good thing. In many ways
for me, I felt rape was worse than murder. At least if I were dead I wouldn't
have to relive it every day.
    “Well lucky might not be the right work, but at least she
survived,” He observed.  “She may not have felt that way then, but things
get better. Providing she had the support and care necessary, she at least had
a chance to move on. This girl didn't.”
    I nodded. He was right. She wasn't given the chance to fight
back.
    Guilt suddenly swept through me. Was I wasting chances that
some people just didn’t get? I was barely 20, yet the last ten years I hadn’t
been living. I’d barely been coping. The difference between me and so many
others was I still had a life ahead of me. Whether I chose to live it was up to
me in the end, but it was there.
    “I guess I see your point,” I admitted. “What she went
through would have been pretty hard to live with.” I pointed out.
    “I don't disagree with you for a second. Getting over
something like that would have been incredibly hard, and a long process. From
the victim statements it looked like she had a supportive family. Many victims
don't even have that.”
    “I know.” I whispered. “That’s what I want to do. I mean
when I finish, I want to work with victims of violent crime. I want to be able
to support people who have nobody. To experience something like that is one
thing, but to go through the aftermath alone, now that's just unbearable.”
    Simon stayed silent for a long time. Had he hung up?
    “You’re a very surprising young woman, Emma.” He said,
shaking his head in dismay. “Just when I think I have you worked out, you throw
something else out at me. Not many people can surprise me like you do.
Especially someone so young.”
    I smiled. Goosebumps prickled my arms and shivered their way
down my back. There was something amazing about hearing the admiration in his
voice.
    “It’s been lovely talking to you Emma. I hope we can do this
again.” I could hear something in his voice. I wasn't sure what it was, or even
how to describe it. It was just. Something.
    “I’d like that.” I said shyly. 
     

Chapter Seven

 
    Re-runs of Community or a movie.
    That was the big question I was faced with right now. My
thoughts were interrupted by a beep. My email. I scrambled to my feet, tripping
over a rogue cup as I stumbled to my phone.
    Please be Simon, please be Simon, please be Simon. Yes!
    Emma,
    Did you have time to read through my notes? I hope it
made sense to you. I am looking forward to discussing with you.
    Simon
    I was so smitten. I’d been so concerned that we wouldn’t
connect in person, and I couldn’t have been more wrong. I’d felt the energy
between us instantly, and I think he’d felt it too. From his smile, to his
amazing eyes, and right down to his personality, everything about this guy had
me caught.  
    Simon,
    I'm sure you understand I'm a very busy woman, I've
spent the last twenty minutes trying to decide whether to watch old episodes of Community or the late movie.
But seriously, I found your notes very insightful. I'm no longer aiming for
just a pass!
    Emma
    My phone