Page 87 of Broken Bayou

I dry my face. It’s unnerving to think how parallel my life was to Travis’s. Toxic mothers. Losing our sisters. But even though our lives may have looked similar on paper, we couldn’t be more different. I fought to overcome my traumas, learn from them. And I fought to not become one of Travis’s victims. I will learn from that as well.

I return to the set as a man behind the camera yells, “One minute.”

People scurry around the set. Rita rolls her neck. Amy runs to my side, bends down. “If at any point you need to stop, just say so. Even though it’s live, you can take as many breaks as you need.” She squeezes my arm and runs back behind the camera.

“Ten seconds,” the man behind the camera yells.

So many lives lost; so many others affected by those losses.

“Nine.”

Amy and I decided to take a hiatus from the podcast. I postponed my book tour as well. After this interview, I’m going to take the time I need to heal.

“Eight.”

“Seven.”

Rita beams at the camera.

“Six.”

Her hand finds mine.

“Five.”

Rita whispers, “Be brave.”

“Four.”

I’m not sure if she’s talking to me or herself.

“Three.”

I stare directly into the lens.

“Two.”

“One.”

The man behind the camera points to us. Rita gives my hand one final squeeze. I take a breath.

Time to tell my story.