Semua Bab Every Word Unspoken: Bab 1 - Bab 9

Damon Compton sighed. "I'll just go buy them again."Kendra Dougherty quickly shook her head, looking almost embarrassed to ask for anything. "Don't go to all that trouble. Cookies from anywhere are fine."But Damon had already grabbed his car keys and headed out.I stared blankly at his retreating figure.The bakery was an hour away by subway, and with the holiday approaching, traffic would only be worse.When I'd asked him earlier if he could take me there, he'd complained that it was too much trouble and said there was no need to go so far.Just then, a vibration from our group chat interrupted my thoughts.Kendra sent him a reminder: [You're passing the cafe on your way back, right? Could you pick up two drinks for me and Meredith while you're at it?]Damon replied almost immediately: [What do you two want?][Anything is fine.]Damon replied: [Okay.]It wasn't until an hour later that he realized I still hadn't answered.[@Meredith Valentine, stop overthinking it and hu

By the time I left the police station, an hour had passed.I no longer had to face that man in person, but every time I returned, the horrible memories came flooding back. Whenever someone suddenly approached me, I instinctively wanted to retreat.My legs were still a little shaky, and out of habit, I opened social media. There wasn't a single message.Instead, I came across three consecutive posts Kendra had shared on her social feed. I opened each video.The camera swung wildly from side to side, but Damon's tall figure stood out clearly in every shot. He stood in front of her, shielding her from people trying to make her drink and peeling shrimp for her.When Kendra lost a game, Damon stepped in to take her punishment.The two of them looked more like a couple than he and I ever did.I was about to close the videos when I suddenly noticed the bracelet on Kendra's wrist.My heart sank. That was the bracelet my grandmother had given me...I quickly flagged down a cab and rush

Damon's hands trembled as he opened the video and watched it over and over.He couldn't believe the person being discussed was me. He couldn't believe that something so serious had happened to me and that I'd kept it from him.In his mind, I would always be the girl who came to him to complain and cry whenever her supervisor criticized her.His body stiffened as he looked at the receptionist, who was watching the drama unfold with undisguised interest.Even his voice shook when he spoke, "When... when did this happen?""It happened before Thanksgiving. I think it was the night of the twenty-second."The twenty-second...Damon furrowed his brow, trying to remember.Fragments of details and moments he'd barely noticed began resurfacing in his mind. It was the night Kendra attended her class reunion.During that phone call he abruptly cut short, I was crying desperately, terrified and helpless. I begged him to come pick me up from work.But at the time, he didn't have the patien

Kendra was still in the living room, sorting through the things she'd brought home from her parents' place.When she saw Damon come out, she assumed he'd finally come around. She hurried over and slipped her arm through his."Damon, what should we have for dinner? Remember how much you liked these sausages? My mom packed a whole bunch for us..."But no matter what she said, Damon's expression remained dark.Kendra felt embarrassed. An inexplicable sense of dread began to creep over her. "Damon, what's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that...?"Damon stared at the woman in front of him. He'd known Kendra even longer than he'd known Meredith. They'd been together through high school, college, and graduation.He'd thought he knew her well enough, but only today had he realized how wrong he'd been."Can you explain what those emails are about?"A flicker of unease crossed Kendra's eyes. "Damon, what are you talking about? Those emails were sent by Meredith. How would I know an

After I left, Damon never showed up at the hospital again. I assumed he'd moved on.It wasn't until a month later, when Mom was discharged and came home, that I learned he'd rented the house directly across the street from ours.Every month, he'd travel across state lines to stay there for two days.Sometimes, when I went out for a walk with my parents, I'd see him standing by his window, silently watching me. I acted as though I hadn't seen him.Brett's case was also closed a month later. He was sentenced to five years in prison.On my birthday, a text from an unfamiliar number popped up on my phone.[Happy birthday, Meredith.]I knew it was Damon.When I got home that day, there was a cake waiting by the front door. It was my favorite kind.For all five years we'd been together, he'd been by my side on every birthday, but this time, I didn't need him beside me anymore. I threw the cake into the trash.Then I lit the candles on the princess cake Yohan had made for me. The fr