Riley lowered her head.
She turned to Daniel.
He didn’t stick up for her like he used to.
Instead, he put out his cigarette.
66
He said to Liam, “You’re right. We should head
back.”
“I just remembered, Ashley was mad because
we missed her graduation.”
“She’s graduated. She can’t live at the college
anymore.”
“Where is she staying? We need to call her and
convince her to come home.”
<
“A family shouldn’t fight.”
“If she apologizes to Riley, we’ll let her come
home.”
Liam nodded.
“Okay.”
They shouldn’t.
But they hadn’t been a family for a while.
They hadn’t taken a trip like this in years.
He realized that every trip he took, Riley was
with them.
Ashley never got invited.
Liam felt a chill.
When did things turn out like this2
<
When did things turn out like this?
Liam tried to remember.
He realized things had been different since
Riley came.
Ashley wasn’t happy then.
She cried and told them it wasn’t her fault.
She wanted them to kick Riley out.
After that, she barely spoke.
She spent almost all of her time at school.
Sometimes, he’d see her on campus.
One minute, she’d laugh with her friends.
The next minute, she’d look away and stopped
talking.
7:30
I tam started to pante.
He’d lost something important
vou pack in an hour? The nest flight
leaves in two ”
Daniel’s voice broke Liam’s train of thought
Liam looked up and saw the same fear in
Daniel’s eyes
Almost instinctively, Liam said, “Yeah, I’ll get
ready now.”
The plane landed the next evening.
The two men rushed straight home.
Riley whined that she couldn’t carry her
luggage, but they didn’t care.
40
く
- 10.
On the way home, the two men called Ashley
over and over.
But every time, the call went to voicemail.
How could her phone be disconnected?
They hadn’t been gone that long. How could
they not find her?
They got home and rushed upstairs.
Then, they realized.
They’d given Ashley’s room to Riley.
They looked at each other.
They were terrified.
They lost Ashley.
<
- 11.
Jake woke up to Riley’s call.
He hadn’t been sleeping well lately.
He kept picturing Ashley in the rain.
She was so hurt.
But he didn’t do anything.
He promised to protect her forever.
How could he let it come to this?
He answered the phone and heard Riley crying.
He automatically tried to comfort her.
“Don’t cry, Riley. It breaks my heart.”
“Tell me who hurt you.”
<
7:36
66
Riley sobbed. “It’s Daniel and Liam! They’re so mean. They can’t find Ashley, so they’re taking it out on me.”
“It’s not my fault she disappeared! Why won’t they talk to me?”
“They haven’t said a word to me since we got off the plane!”
“I’m so sad. Can I come over?”
Ashley was gone?
He didn’t hear anything Riley said after that.
Ashley, was gone.
The Ashley, who told him they would be
together forever, was gone.
