The moment Mom asked if I saw James, my chest heaved. “No,” I replied and twitched my lips. I didn’t want to keep talking about him because of the emotions I felt whenever I thought of him.

“Emily.”

We turned and it was Xavier. I ran to him immediately and threw my hands around him. He hugged me back, even tighter. I couldn’t believe I missed Xavier this much, it was hurting.

“I’m so sorry,” he said as he hugged me. No one else was going to understand, not even Mom. “It’s not your fault,” she told him.

“The police found someone involved.”

My heart raced faster, I felt bad...