JUSTICE

There were footsteps.

Slow, dragging across the floor. Barely audible — but loud enough to wake her from sleep.

She frowned and glanced at the clock on the wall.

Too late to still be awake.

Too early to get up.

Her head was heavy, her mind foggy. Everything still tangled in the remnants of sleep. But she forced herself up, sitting at the edge of the bed.

She took a deep breath, trying to clear her thoughts — trying to shake off whatever dream she had just left behind.

The footsteps came again. Louder now. More distinct.

Her eyes snapped open as soon as she realized where they were coming from.

Without hesitation, she threw the blanket off her legs and rushed out of the room.

She stopped in front of a door — tightly shut.

She reached for the knob and twisted.

Locked.

A rush of panic welled in her chest, but she tried to stay calm.

"Zack, open the door. I'm here..."

Her voice was soft. Gentle.

But her hands were shaking the doorknob, trying to force it open.

She didn't care that the hallway was dark.

Even without light, she could picture the room behind that door — and imagine what might be happening inside.

"Zack, don't do anything stupid! We promised we'd go through this together. I'm here, Zack. Open the door!"

Her voice grew louder, her tone urgent.

Still locked.

Still no answer.

Still that sound inside the room.

She stepped back — and kicked the door hard.

It burst open.

Zack was standing on the windowsill.

Looking straight at her.

She froze.

Then slowly, she walked forward.

Calm, careful.

"I'm here," she said softly.

Step by step, she moved closer.

"I'm here," she repeated.

Zack kept looking at her.

Even in the dark, the moonlight was enough to reveal the tears on his face.

She was just a few steps away.

"I'm sorry," he said, voice trembling.

"No. Please. I'm here, okay? I'm right here," she pleaded.

Her steps quickened. Almost there.

"I'm sorry!" Zack said again — louder this time. Breaking.

"NO!"

She jumped forward, reaching out — trying to grab him, pull him away from the edge.

Their fingers touched.

Just touched.

And then his body dropped backwards — out of reach.

She ran to the window. Leaned out. Looked down.

The moonlight showed everything clearly.

Zack was lying motionless on the ground below. Blood surrounding him.

She opened her mouth to scream.

No sound came out.

She wanted to cry — but the tears wouldn't come.

Her body froze.

Her eyes fixed on the boy below.

Zack.

A boy who had suffered.

A victim of something everyone thought only happened to women.

A victim of rape.

Denied justice.

Zack was gone.