I can’t even fully process what he’s telling me because my only priority is talking him off the ledge he’s clearly teetering on.“But I didn’t.”
He shakes his head.
“Kyle, those men aren’t coming for you.They were caught and arrested.”
He shakes his head violently, his entire body trembling.
“They’re not coming for you,” I repeat.
“It was my fault.”
“It’s not your fault.You were trying to help your sister.I can’t blame you for that.”
“I’m so sorry,” he cries.“I’m so sorry.”
I wrap an arm around his shoulders and pull him toward me.Kyle collapses against me, and even though the contact sends a fresh wave of pain through my side, I don’t move away.
The anger I feel isn’t even directed at the kid but at the men who manipulated a troubled teenager who was just trying to help his little sister get the medical care she needs.
They took advantage of him, and it’s a weight he’s been carrying ever since.Forweeks.
“I’m so sorry,” he says again.
“I forgive you, Kyle,” I tell him.“I know you didn’t mean for anything to happen to me.”
“They said you wouldn’t even be there.That they just needed something and you wouldn’t even miss it.”
And you didn’t question it because they dangled help for your sister in front of you like a carrot on a string.I bite back the response, though, because it’ll do him no good.Not when he’s already kicking himself enough.
“Listen to me.”I push him back a bit to look at him.“You shouldn’t have taken my key, but it isnotyour fault what happened to me, okay?That fault rests firmly on the shoulders of the men who attacked me.”
“You’ve done nothing but believe in me, and I betrayed you.”
“You made a mistake.Now we need to make sure that the ripple effect doesn’t cost you the bright future your mother, sister, and I know stands ahead of you.”
He shakes his head.“It’s all over.”
“It’s not,” I reply.“All we’re dealing with is a speed bump, okay?And what do we do with speed bumps?”
He closes his eyes tightly.
“What do we do with speed bumps?”
“Go over them slowly,” he whispers.
“Exactly.It’s not over until you give up.And I’ve got news for you, kid.I’m not giving up on you, so you’re not allowed to give up on yourself either.”