He released his first single in college and got
millions of fans online.
He had a bright future.
Then someone ruined everything.
I still didn’t know who did it.
The cops were investigating, they were
supposed to tell me if they found anything.
I clenched my fists.
God, please let me find out who did this.
The next day, I went back to school, got
dressed, did my makeup, and got ready to
compete.
I was going to make Tommy’s dream come
true.
I was going to make Tommy’s dream come
true.
I walked on stage with my guitar, ready to
play my original song.
I saw Ashley in the audience.
She was staring at me, her eyes full of hatred.
I remembered the day we broke up, the day
Tommy died.
After they took his body away, she’d
screamed at me, hitting me.
“It’s your fault, it’s all your fault you didn’t
watch him.
You killed him.”
Those words had haunted me for a year.
Every night, I had nightmares about Tommy
crying.
“Hailey, why didn’t you save me?”
The memory faded, and I took a deep breath
and started to sing.
Then the screen flashed and Tommy was
standing on the roof, haggard.
He looked pale, his voice was hoarse.
“Hailey, there’s nothing left for me. I should
just die.”
And then I walked into view shouting
<
And then I walked into view, shouting.
“Tommy, look at yourself! You’re hideous!”
The video cut out.
The crowd was stunned.
Tommy had been a well–known and loved
figure at school.
I saw Ashley snickering in the audience.
I remembered what I had said after that.
I’d kneeled on the ground, crying, begging
him.
“If you die, even the Devil won’t want you!”
L
“If you’re going to kill yourself, at least fix
your face first.”
I knew Tommy.
I knew he was too stubborn to ever do
something like that.
It worked.
He slowly walked over and hugged me,
saying, “Let’s go home, Hailey.”
I took a deep breath and sang my song.
The song was called “Time Machine.”
“If I could go back, I’d travel back to the
summer you died and save you, save the
boy.”
“The boy sang every day, strummed his
guitar, oh how he shined…”
I sang and cried.
When I was done, I looked out at the crowd.
“The worst thing in the world is people who
spread lies.”
“I don’t even care to explain. I just want you
to know that I love my brother.”
And then I walked off stage.
I didn’t win the competition.
I’m sorry, Tommy.
く
I’m sorry, Tommy.
:
When I got home, the school forum was
covered with posts about me, everyone was
ripping me apart.
Someone had even found Tommy’s grave and
put a doll with my picture on it.
They wanted me to suffer for the rest of my
life.
I was furious.
Tommy was at peace.
Why did they have to bother him?
L
The only person who knew the location of the
grave was Ashley.
I called her and set up a meeting at a café.
As soon as she got there, I slapped her.
“You crossed the line.”
“Tommy’s been dead for a year. Leave him
alone!”
She rubbed her face, her expression angry.
“I’m just letting everyone know that it’s your
fault!”
“You’re a horrible sister!”
L
She’d guilt–tripped me for a year.
But no one could have predicted what he was
going to do.
If I could have traded places with him, I
would.
I threw my coffee in her face, staring her
down.
“Ashley, I was being nice because I knew you
cared about Tommy.
“But you’re obsessed. You’re twisted. You
think you have to steal, kidnap, destroy.
You have to hurt in order to love someone.
You will never be happy.
And what happened to Tommy is none of
your business!”
I got up and walked out.
She was screaming after me.
If I could have gone back, I never would have
been her friend.
:
When I got back, Jake was sitting on my
doorstep.
He jumped up and handed me a ring.
