The problem was that Abe didn’t see the problem with his video game. He was proud.
“Dr. Shapiro thinks it’s okay,” he said.
His laptop was open in front of them on the kitchen table, frozen on that last horrific screen. Jen reached out to shut it.
“Dr. Shapiro said go kill Laurel Perley in your video game?”
“No, but she’s always telling me to channel my feelings into something harmless.”
“This isn’t what she meant. How would you feel if Laurel killed you in a video game?”
A small smile. “She’s not really smart enough to do that.”
Jen sighed with frustration. “The game is so disturbing that Colin—Colin—forwarded it to her.”
“Colin is not as loyal as you think.”
“What does that even mean?” Jen did not understand why Colin hadn’t come to her first.
Yes you do. You know exactly why. Jen was so in denial, so incapable of seeing Abe clearly that even Colin believed telling her would be pointless.
“I’m trying really hard,” Abe said. “But everything I do is wrong.”
Do you think Abe has plans to hurt his friend?
Jen had looked Nan squarely in the eye and said, Of course not.
“Like the vandalism?” Jen said.
“I didn’t do that.”
“I spend a lot of time defending you.” Jen’s voice was cool. “But I don’t know that I believe you.”
Abe’s neck flushed an angry red. “I’m. Not. The. Vandal.” His scream ripped his voice raw. “Stop doubting me.”
He snatched the pepper shaker from the table, hurled it across the room. Jen watched dispassionately as it crashed into the surface of the island and bounced to the floor, where it broke open, bleeding peppercorns.
She couldn’t do it anymore. Her heart was a husk and all she wanted to do was sleep.
The door from the garage slammed open and shut. “It’s me,” Paul yelled. “Back from the mines.
“Hello, gang!” Paul was slightly breathless as he arrived in the kitchen, suitcase behind him. He looked back and forth between them and the broken glass and the peppercorns spilled across the floor. “What’d I miss?”
No one is writing any condolence notes to the deceased’s parents. People blame them for creating a monster and setting him loose on the world.
I think that life tends to be more complicated that.
He did awful things, yes, but he was so, so young. He had his entire life ahead of him.
I seem to be alone in wanting to believe there was hope for his redemption.