Chapter 2

Caroline was silent for a long moment. Part of her wanted to lash out at this girl who had caused her family so much pain. But she heard the genuine remorse in Kelly’s voice.

“I ... I appreciate you reaching out, Kelly,” Caroline said finally. “And thank you for giving me Michael’s information. As for forgiveness ... that may take time. But I’m glad you’ve realized the impact of your actions. Maybe that’s a start.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Stanton, ” Kelly said softly. “I hope Michael can find peace someday.”

After hanging up, Caroline sat at the kitchen table, her mind reeling. After years of silence, she finally had a way to contact her son. But would he even want to hear from her? She and her husband had failed Michael so badly, allowing the bullying to go on for years.

With trembling fingers, she dialed Anna.

With a heavy sigh, Anna Parrish, former Anna Stanton, clicked the power button on her computer and watched as it shut down. Another day of mundane tasks and tedious work had come to an end. She couldn’t help but think of what her father used to say - “Another day, another dollar.” Looking around her cubicle, she couldn’t help but feel a wave of disappointment wash over her. Ten identical cubicles surrounded her, each occupied by another drone worker just like herself.

For a moment she reminisced of her time as a cheerleader in high school, practicing her moves with a sense of determination and ambition. But all that changed because that accursed brother of hers, Mickey, couldn’t take a joke. The mediatic notoriety of the trial ensured that a college path would be forever closed to her. Instead, she had settled for a two-year degree in secretarial science from this community college. It was a painful reminder of what she had lost. Her name was known by everyone in town, making it impossible for her to get hired by any big company unless she gave up her surname. So, Anna Stanton became Anna Parrish. Her new surname was also a painful reminder of what she had lost. She knew she’d eventually surrender it again to take her husband’s surname, but until now there were no prospects on sight.

Her thoughts drifted to the last part of her senior year. Being responsible for so many losses, the whole of the squad had become pariahs, not only to the rest of the school but also between them. She remembered her boyfriend’s parting words: “you ruined my life, bitch!” the last time he spoke to her. He had been a new member of the football team, and although he hadn’t been at the party, the disbanding of the team left him without a chance for a scholarship. Last she heard, he had given up on his dream of becoming a lawyer and was working as a plumber instead.

Just like Anna herself - so many lives changed for the worse because of one mistake made by her weak little brother.

Shaking off these memories, Anna took a deep breath and stood up. She needed to focus on getting through this last semester so she could finally move on with her life.

As she walked through the bustling hallways filled with fellow workers chatting and laughing, Anna couldn’t help but feel a sense of sadness and regret. This was not where she had imagined herself at her age. It was May, the month when most college graduations occur. She sighed. One of the names called should be hers. But it wasn’t. It wouldn’t be.

As Anna walked through the parking lot towards her car, she noticed a group of teenagers hanging out by the entrance of the office building. They were loud and boisterous, throwing empty soda cans at each other and shouting vulgarities.

As she approached them, one of the boys turned and stared at Anna with a sneer on his face.

“Hey lady!” he yelled across the lot. “Why won’t you join us? A pretty girl is always welcome!” All the other boys jeered.

Anna felt a surge of fear as she realized they were talking to her.

“I’m just trying to get to my car,” she called back calmly.

“Spoilsport!” another boy shouted. “It’s not safe for stuck-up ladies around here.” His voice carried a veiled threat.

Ignoring their taunts, Anna picked up her pace and quickly made it to her car. As she drove away from the office building, she couldn’t help but shudder. “It’s all his fault, ” she thought again. “I should be working in the business district, not here in the industrial park.”

Anna lived in an efficiency apartment in a so-so neighborhood. She had just sat to eat her microwaved dinner when her mobile phone rang.

Looking at the screen, Anna saw that it was her mother calling. She hesitated for a moment before answering, not sure if she wanted to hear what her mother had to say.

“Hi, Mom. What’s up?” Anna finally answered.

“I know where your brother is, ” Caroline replied excitedly.

Anna couldn’t speak for a moment. When she did answer, her response was less than enthusiastic.

“So?” Anna asked, trying to keep her voice neutral.

Her mother seemed taken aback by her lack of enthusiasm. In all the excitement of finding out about her son’s whereabouts, she had forgotten how resentful and angry Anna felt towards him after what had happened.

“So?!” Caroline exclaimed. “So, we can finally have closure! We can bring him back home!”

Anna took a deep breath and sighed heavily. She didn’t want to think about bringing him back home after everything he had put their family through.

“Mom, I don’t know if I’m ready for this,” Anna said honestly. “I’ve tried to move on from what happened but every time I see his face or hear his name, it just brings back all the pain.”

Caroline was silent for a moment before responding softly, “I understand, sweetheart. But remember, it wasn’t his fault. He was the victim.”

Tears of rage welled up in Anna’s eyes and she couldn’t hold herself.

“Victim? It was just a joke, a prank, Mom!” she began to rant. “And because he took it too seriously I lost my future, many other people lost their future, I’m living in a crappy apartment in a crappy city, you are a widow and ... and...” she couldn’t continue.

“And he’s living alone, has suicide thoughts, has never got a girlfriend and is unable to sleep because of the nightmares. All of it because of your ‘joke’.” Caroline retorted. “You and your friends practically raped my son, why are you still calling it a joke!?” she cried, and cut the call.

Anna sat motionless, her mind racing with a mix of emotions. She couldn’t believe her mother had just hung up on her like that. She got up and paced around the room for a while, trying to calm herself down. But the thoughts and memories kept flooding back. She remembered the day when everything changed, when she lost everything. ----------------------------------- The tall policeman loomed on the doorstep, his uniform crisp and pressed despite the late hour. His stern expression didn’t change as he spoke to the woman who answered the door. “Are you Anna Stanton?”

She nodded, her heart pounding with confusion and fear. “Yes. What is this about?” Her voice trembled, betraying her unease. She had no traffic warrants or any reason to be speaking with a police officer.

“We need you to accompany us to the station,” the officer stated gravely.

Anna’s mother emerged from the kitchen; her apron still tied around her waist. “What’s going on? Why do you need my daughter?”

The policeman turned towards her. “And you are?”

“Caroline Stanton, I’m her mother,” she replied with a hint of worry in her eyes.

The cop nodded, his expression growing more serious. “There has been a complaint of sexual assault against your daughter. We need to bring her in for questioning.”

Shock and disbelief flooded through Anna’s mind. “But I was not assaulted,” she protested.

The officer’s tone remained firm. “You misunderstood me, Miss. You are the accused.”

Anna was speechless, unable to process this sudden turn of events. “What? Who would accuse me of such a thing?” she stammered. “This is absurd! It must be a mistake!”

The second officer stepped forward; his authority evident in his stance. “You will accompany us now,” he commanded, reaching for a pair of handcuffs. He put them on her while the other cop read her Miranda rights.

Before leaving, the taller cop addressed Caroline. “You should get her a lawyer. She will be at the central precinct.” Caroline, still shocked, nodded. One minute later, she was on the phone, calling her husband.

As they made their way out of the house, there were murmurs and curious glances from the few neighbors still outside, drawn by the presence of a patrol car in their quiet neighborhood at dusk. Anna couldn’t help but feel like all eyes were on her as she was escorted away by the police officers.

Anna was taken to the cold detention cell, her head spinning with shock and disbelief. She couldn’t believe that she was being accused of such a heinous crime. As she looked around, she saw that she was not alone. Some of her fellow cheerleaders were also there, along with some of the football players.

“What is going on?” Anna whispered to one of her teammates, who was sitting next to her.

“I don’t know,” the girl replied, tears streaming down her face. “They said someone accused us of sexual assault.”

Anna’s heart sank as she realized that she wasn’t the only one being accused. It was terrifying.

The door to the cell opened and two detectives walked in, their expressions grim. One of them introduced himself as Detective Rodriguez and the other as Detective Smith.