They moved to a quiet corner near the gate, away from the bustle of passengers and airport staff.
Evan seemed to struggle with where to begin, his hands clasped tightly together.
“I was 16,” he finally said. “Sixteen and stupid and so scared all the time.”
“My dad had left, my mom was working three jobs, and I fell in with this group of older kids who made me feel like I belonged somewhere.”
Melissa nodded, the memories becoming clearer.
“I remember.”
“They were into petty crime,” Evan continued. “Breaking into cars, stealing from convenience stores, vandalism.”
“I was always the lookout. I never actually went inside, never took anything myself.”
“I’d just stand across the street, watching, making sure nobody was coming.”
“Until that night,” Melissa said softly.
“Until that night,” he echoed.
“We were hitting this electronics store. The guys went in, and I was doing my usual thing.”
“Then, the cops showed up out of nowhere. Everyone ran. Everyone but me.”
“I froze,” he continued. “Just stood there like an idiot while my so-called friends disappeared into the night.”
“The police caught me, and suddenly I was the only one arrested. The only one facing charges.”
“Because you were the only one they found,” Melissa finished.
“Exactly,” Evan nodded.
“And because I hadn’t actually stolen anything, they sent me to juvenile court instead of treating me like an adult. They sent me to you.”
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