“Did you kill him?” Camille’s question wasn’t colored with judgment or horror. Instead, her friend looked perfectly okay with whatever Maxine said making her sad. She knew Camille was only okay with it having been cornered into the fight or be victimized box herself. It was a shitty box to find a friend in.
But it was always a comfort to have someone that understood. Leaning on her shoulder gently, Maxine whispered honestly, “No. His mama came outside and started calling for him. I snapped out of it and let him go.” A miracle that saved both of their lives. And her soul.
“Pity. The world is more beautiful without boys like that in the world becoming men.” Maxine agreed. And it was that agreement that made her content to know how it ended.
She’d just been gone when she’d found out wha
