Page 141 of The Other Side

But I do understand.

I understand more than he’ll ever know.

I know the feeling of being deprived of a rich childhood. Not in wealth, but in love. I know what it’s like to never be able to sprint home to your parents, just so you can cheer about all your successes from school. They’d probably hug and kiss you, encourage you with their support as they praised all your accomplishments. At least, that’s always how I imagined it was for others.

That’s all we can do—Cody and I.

Imagine what it’s like.

“Think of how much more rewarding it’s going to feel when you finally get to show him,” I finally say.

Cody pops a shoulder through his t-shirt, a pout etched on his face. “He’ll act like he cares, but I know when he’s out of jail, he’ll go right back a few months later.”

It’s a deadening feeling. Knowing Cody’s father cares more about a rush from drugs than his own child. A child who’s so intelligent and gentle. A child who deserves none of this.

But Cody isn’t the one who lost in this situation.

His father did.

“Okay,” I begin, shifting in my seat to prop my palms on the armrests. “Instead of thinking about who you can’t tell good news to, think of all the people you can tell.”

He stares blankly at me across a few beats. “My mom. My sister.”

His clipped response tells me this direction isn’t going to be successful, so I sway the conversation. “Do you remember what we discussed last time? About things we can control?”

“Yeah,” he responds, unamused.

I gesture a hand out to motivate him. “List them. What things are in your control?”

He sucks in a tiny breath, pivoting his head to the side. Then he boredly recites what we’ve already discussed. “What I’m going to do next. How I respond.”

“That’s exactly right,” I offer. “No one can take that power away from you, Cody. Maybe you don’t have control over how life pans out and what other people do, but you have the ability to choose how you react. You get to decide what you’re going to do to improve your own life.”

He shakes his head, peeking down at his hands in his lap. “It’s not fair. I didn’t ask for these feelings.”

A fragment of my heart falls with the one that just crashed from his.

“You’re right,” I agree. “Sometimes, we have feelings living inside of us that weren’t invited. But they stay anyway. Especially if they’re influenced by someone or something on the outside,” I reply. “We can only control how we manage those feelings. At least we get something.”

“It’s easier to just be sad sometimes.”

I nod quietly. “Yeah, it is.”

Cody lifts his head, disbelief dashing in his round eyes when I validate his claim.

“But it won’t help,” I add sternly. “At least if you try to break out of some of that sadness, there’s a chance for happiness, Cody. When you don’t try, that’s when it’s impossible.”

Chapter 42

Callie Rae

After work, I came straight here knowing Jesse would be around this evening. That was our agreed-upon time. As much as I wanted to dive into packing boxes when I came home from work, I threw on jeans and a t-shirt to sit under the warm sun.

My legs curl at my side, chin sloping toward the sky. My skin absorbs the cozy beams, the pads of my fingers grazing the lush needles of the lawn. Then I’m dipping my attention to my garden.

I study the canvas of color—vivid yellows, pinks, and purples woven together. The silk petals of the flowers dance with the whispering wind. A sweet fragrance immediately greets the air around me.

My eyes land on the polished stone of the two perched doves. I linger on their delicately carved features, admiring the grace that radiates from their expressions.