The Stand We Make

“No,” you say, and your voice is stronger than you expected. “We’re not walking away. Danny Morrison was a real person with a real family who loves him and needs to know what happened. We found him, and we’re going to make sure he gets home.”

Ace’s face darkens, but something in your tone – maybe the fact that you’re not backing down, maybe the way your friends rally behind you – makes him hesitate.

“This isn’t over,” he says finally. But he and his gang turn and walk away.

When the police arrive (called by a hiker who heard the shouting), they find four kids who have grown up considerably in the space of a single weekend. You tell them everything – about Danny, about where you found him, about why you came looking.

The town calls you heroes, but you know better. You’re just kids who did what felt right when it mattered.