Teresa Mummert: Pretty Little Things

“We want to thank you all for coming here today." Colin's strong voice resonated through the sanctuary. "I know this isn’t conventional, but nothing about our lives has been to this point.” There was a small rumbling of laughter, and I smiled as I glanced up at Colin. “Today we get a chance to reclaim our lives and, literally, bury our past.” I glanced behind me at the mahogany casket that contained Taylor’s body. “With the death of Taylor, we can sleep soundly knowing the monster we feared is not lurking in the shadows. But I’ve come to realize he wasn’t really a monster at all. He was just a man. A sad, sick man who can no longer hurt anyone. He didn’t win. We get to rebuild our lives and come back stronger, and we will do it together.” Colin was grinning down at me as he mouthed I love you .

“I’m proud to announce that, with your blessing, we will be opening the Blakely Community. You all will have a safe place to rest your heads and the support system you need to move on with your lives.” I held my breath as I scanned the faces of Taylor’s surviving victims. Slowly they began to clap and cheer as they rose to their feet. Colin wrapped his arms around me and lifted my feet from the ground.

Spending Taylor’s money on ourselves hadn’t seemed fair, when his cruelty had reached so many others. It would be a long road, and we would all have to pitch in to make it work, but it was a start.

I was young enough not to understand that my life was different, but not everyone else was as fortunate. We would protect each other. We would help each other shoulder the burden.

We were the lucky few who got a chance to start over. A real family, a new home, and a beautiful life built on strength and perseverance. While our lives were brought together as victims, we stayed together as survivors. It was only a matter of time before our tragedy became a story of hope.