Months passed. Nick was serving his sentence. He wrote regularly to Mina and Jay.
Mina visited him. Not with hate, but forgiveness. "Rick wouldn't want revenge. He'd want the truth."
Jay, now studying counseling, decided to write their story. He titled it Shadows of Regret.
On the anniversary of Rick's death, Jay visited the grave. He placed the book down.
"I couldn't save you, Rick. But maybe this can save someone else."
The wind blew softly as if Rick, somewhere, was listening.