Forgiven

Shawn

Oh no. This is all my fault. My son could be dead now because of me. He wont forgive me now. It's been too long. I have to see him! These are all thoughts running through Shawns mind. Maybe if I send a call. All kids text nowadays right? Or an email. Emails are read right? These thoughts are going to make me insane. I can pull through. I can do it. I'll meet him myself. I'll go to him face to face and tell him the truth. Unless she did first. Then he could turn against me for being gone.

Shawn drives down to Cody's raided house. He sees Cody's step-father laying still in a puddle of blood. He also sees his ex-wife lay dying while holding her stomach. "Barbara! Are you okay? What happened here? Whats going on" he questions. "They came. They ... ugh.... came and shot us up. Isabella showed them the ... secret... way out. Brandon died! Shawn, I'm not going to make it and it okay. I just need to ask you to do one thing. Don't run away. Stay with him. You're just about the only person he has left.

"Barbara, I promise you, I will not leave him, and barb, I love you" he sobs out. "I love you t..." Barbara's eyes shut and her final breath escapes her mouth. "This is all my fault". He grabs the guns from Barbara and Brandon. As he goes to leave the house, he sees a small figure in the doorway. Isabella appears and is holding the baseball bat. "Isabella?" He sputters. She fully shows herself in the doorway. "Who are you!?" She yells out trying to sound as strong and scary as possible. "It's me. It's...Daddy". "Daddy? Why didn't you come home sooner? Because now Mommy and Brandon are dead".

"Im sorry sweetheart. I was scared and ashamed all at once. Do you forgive me?". Isabella hesitates while taking time to think. Finally she runs to her father and hugs him. "I missed you Daddy!". "Well Isabella, do you know where your brother is?"."I told him and Alyssa to run to the gas station for Charlie". "Good girl, stay with me Isabella. Go get Brandon's baseball glove. And then we will go to Charlie too.