Let Love Shine by Melissa Collins Read Free Book Online Page B

anything else that would give you some kind of
clue? A friend’s name or something like that?”
    I can tell he’s mentally replaying the conversation, so when
the light bulb goes off over his head, I grin and wait for him to share.
    “She said ‘Cane would kill me if he knew I was calling.’
After that, I couldn’t make out anything because she was sobbing so badly.
Then, the line went dead.”
    “Cane? You sure?” I need to double check, make sure my ears
aren’t playing tricks on me.
    “Yeah, I’m certain because I remember thinking I wish she’d
give me her name too so that I could put it all together and go help her out
some more.”
    “There was a kid in my group last week at Lincoln Memorial
whose name was Cane. It can’t be all that common of a name, can it?” I clearly
remember the kid too. Tall and skinny, dressed in a punk-rock inspired wardrobe
from head to toe. He stayed after the assembly when I held a voluntary group
session. Kids rarely open up much during those, but not Cane. He was angry and
clearly hurting. I did my best to try to talk him through his pain, to get him
to open up, but when he saw the other kids sitting there wide-eyed and shocked,
he shut his mouth and practically stormed out of the room.
    “Why don’t we talk to everyone who helps with the support line
to keep their eyes out for the number that called on Friday, or anything within
the same area code? If any of the callers mention anything about Lincoln
Memorial, then maybe we can get in touch with the principal and go back into
the school.” I offer up a lame smile hoping that it will help calm his racing
brain, but I know it won’t. Dylan cares about the kids we meet more than anyone
I know. He really takes their issues to heart.
    “Yeah, man. Sounds good.” He stands and throws a twenty down
on the bar. We walk out to his car, and for the ten minute drive to my
apartment, there’s an uneasy silence settling around us. I unclip my seatbelt.
“Don’t worry, okay. We’ll figure something out.” He nods but stares out the
windshield, a distracted look plastered to his face. After I close the door, I
pop my head back through the window. “See you tomorrow.” My words almost
startle him and he looks over at me as if he’s seeing me for the first time
since we left the bar.
    I stand in the parking lot and watch him pull away. I don’t
want to imagine the thoughts going through his head right now. I’m sure they’re
about Shane. For a guy who seems to have it all together most days, he’s still
reeling inside. I can’t force him to open up, though. The best I can do is wait
for him to want to talk.
    Maybe someday.
     

 
    I swear I only hear every other word out of my professor’s
mouth. Presidents and Senators. Executive and legislative branches. I have
busted my ass to get to where I am, and if I didn’t need this politics course
in order to graduate from my two-year program in the spring, well, then I would so be dropping it.
    “Any questions?” he calls out dryly and he wipes his
chalk-covered hands down the front of his dark brown corduroys.
    Please, nobody have a question. Pretty please. I just
want to go home.
    Thankfully, no one asks anything. When he says, “Class
dismissed,” the only noise that fills the room is the sound of everyone closing
up their textbooks and packing up their backpacks.
    Class is over at 8:30 pm, so as long as I walk out with a
group of people, I feel safe trekking through the rather poorly lit parking lot.
Christina, the quiet and mousy girl who sits next to me, walks with me to my
car. “I’m only a few down.” She angles her head down the line of parked cars
where her lights flash and her alarm chirps. “I’ll get coffee next week. Large,
hazelnut, with skim milk, right?” Her eyes squint together as she recalls my
order from the last time she bought the coffee.
    “Perfect. Thanks, Chrissy.” She walks toward her car and
waves. “See you next week.”
    I don’t