Inside the police car, Chloe called her Mom’s cell to see if she was home. The phone rang without ceasing until she hung up. Back at the house, Chloe talked to the cops for an hour so they could have her story on what happened, and watched them turn the corner as her Mother pulled into the driveway.

With a frantic look on her face, Ms. Sunder rushed inside, “Were the police here?”

“It was Jay again. I did call,” Chloe answered. The sound of her feet stomping up the steps left a resounding silence in the house, too big for the two people in the large house. Ms. Sunder sighed and walked to the kitchen. Chloe should be mad at her. She should have answered the phone; should have been there.

Upstairs, Chloe sat on her bed. Then she realized she did not want to sit there alone. She climbed out onto her own roof and down the oak tree in her backyard.

Crossing the street, she began to break down. The stress, the shock of it all was finally hitting.

As Alex opened the door she collapsed into his arms.