brian harris + jess harris: "i would die for you."
JANUARY 10 2000
Brianās driving through the falling snow, his gaze fixed on what little road he can see. The three of them are quiet. No one has said anything for miles. Chris has finally fallen into an uneasy sleep in the backseat, but Jess canāt bear to close her eyes despite the exhaustion. Every time she does, she can only see her fatherās rage and her motherās lifeless body, lying in a pool of blood.
She feels like crying, but hasnāt yet. Somehow none of this feels real, even though every detail of every moment has been seared into her brain, replaying over and over and over.
The storm has gotten so bad that Brian canāt see out anymore. Heās pulls the truck to a stop on the side of the road, waiting for it to pass. Ā
āHey, reach back and grab one of those blankets,ā Brian says, softly, and thatās when Jess realizes that sheās been shivering.
The blanket is big and awkward and Jess struggles to unfold it. Brian reaches over to help her, but she pulls away from his touch. Sheās suddenly scared of him.
He shifts away from her, āJess, itās okay. Iām not going to hurt you.ā
āDad hurt mom.ā She says, her voice cracking as she finally says it out loud. She starts to cry.
āIām not dad. Iām nothing like dad. Iām not going to hurt you. Iām never going to hurt you. Iām going to keep you and Chris safe. Jess, I would die for you. You donāt have anything to be afraid of, okay?ā
For a long time she doesnāt say anything; she just looks back at him. He moves to help her with the blanket and this time she doesnāt stop him. She scoots over and rests her head on his shoulder, and he puts his arm around her.
āOkay.ā











