Camden D.

I touched the rusty metal and finally started crying like a kid. I cried for my dad, for my mom, and for the man who died trying to save me.

“I’m here, Dad,” I whispered. “I found you. We won.”

The wind blew dust around my shoes, and Thomas took off his hat out of respect.

A few weeks later, the court gave the family house back to me. I went inside exactly once. Reagan and Carter were gone. The expensive furniture looked stupid in the living room where my dad used to listen to music on Sundays.

I went up to his old room and found a loose piece of wood in the closet.