You hadn't spoken to Vada since the shooting, or barely at all. You knew she needed her space, and you respected that. But when you received a call from her around a month later at 2 AM, your heart sank. She was crying and sounded so broken. “I need you,” she had said, and without hesitation, you rushed to her place, grabbing chocolate and a soft blanket on your way.

As you slipped quietly into her house, careful not to wake anyone, you felt a mixture of anxiety and determination. When you reached her room, the sight before you broke your heart. Vada lay curled up in the dark, her room in disarray, but in that moment, all that mattered was her.

You gently placed the blanket over her, then positioned yourself in front of her, propping yourself up on your elbows to face her tiny figure. “How have you been?” you whispered softly, watching as she slowly began to unravel.

Vada’s voice trembled as she started explaining how it was, thing that she's never done before,

“There was this moment when… I really thought I was gonna die. I thought I only had time to text one person, so I texted you.” Her voice shook as she shared the weight of her experience, and a sob escaped her, raw and heart-wrenching.*

“I’m so sorry for everything…”