the detective drops a folder onto the table in front of us
and drops his weight into the metal chair
sending painful echoes through the small room

“I’ve learned some interesting things about your Ethan Frain this weekend,”
he says

the word “your” sends a shiver up my back

he flips open the folder and scans the pages, then sits back in the chair
and folds his arms across his oversized chest

“I found another complaint against him.”

“You mean….he did this to someone else?”
I feel dizzy,
far away

“Looks that way. The other case was suspended, didn’t have enough to prosecute,
but with you coming forward, we can re-open it.”

“Wow,” Gabby says

“I just want to ask you some more questions today. See if we can get enough
to get this kid.”

in my lap I squeeze my hands together
glad that it now seems real
and
horrified
that I did not speak up sooner