They were all to blame.
Anger churned inside him as he stared at the invitation in his hand.
You are cordially invited to the dedication for the new Briar Ridge High School.
Please join us as we dedicate the building to those who were lost in the Briar Ridge High shooting.
Let’s celebrate the beginning of a new era!
Kate McKendrick, Principal, Briar Ridge High
He balled his hands into fists. Fifteen years ago, the shooting at the school had torn the town apart. Four students had been killed, along with a teacher. Several others had been injured. Ned Hodgkins, the gunman, had turned the weapon on himself.
His classmates had seemed shocked that Ned would do such a thing. They’d been too busy attending football games, dances, and socializing to notice that Ned had been hurting.
That others had felt left out, too.
He opened the yearbook and cut out photos of all the classmates who’d wronged Ned. Who’d wronged him. One by one, he carefully spread the pictures on his kitchen table.
They were so popular back then. But they’d been selfish.
He tapped the picture of Kate with his finger. She’d wanted to tear down the old school. To destroy the past. To wipe it away as if it never happened.
She had to pay for that.
So did the others. Each would receive their own message. But he’d start with Kate.
He turned the invitation over and began to write.
Dear Kate,
It was your fault.
He placed the invitation back inside the envelope to send to her. She wanted to forget about the past. To pretend Ned wasn’t important.
No one would forget about Ned or what had happened.
He wouldn’t let them.