And I knew we were both healing together.

An Ordinary Life --

SPRING QUARTER, SENIOR YEAR (April 2002)

Neither of us quite went back to sleep. We simply held each other with our eyes closed and cuddled in absolute contentment, hoping that the real world would stay away forever.

But it wouldn't.

Danielle had to pee and as she rolled off the bed, my eyes opened up to see where she was going as I felt her weight Lift free of the mattress.

She came around the bed first, bending down to tenderly press her lips to my forehead.

I think we both felt it then, and I felt my body go slack in mild sadness at realizing it was over. Her kiss was a kiss of sisterly affection, not passion. As good as her lips felt against my forehead, the sexual tension between us was now gone.

The male libido part of me felt saddened at this loss. But the Loving brother in me rejoiced. We were moving on. Perhaps Danielle and I would never again make love in a physical sense, but we would be forever bonded in a close way that few siblings ever experience.

When it came time for breakfast, Danielle came down and puttered around with the rest of our roommates in a chipper mood. I'm certain Amber knew exactly what had happened. E-Beth and Diane could have their suspicions and their imaginations were probably working overtime as they evaluated Danielle and me in a slightly tense manner borne of their curiosity.

But between my sister and I? There was no awkwardness, only comfortable familiarity.

There were no questions, only trust.

There was no Lust, only familial affection.

She was healing.

They caught the rapist two days later. He was an ex-member of a

University fraternity that had kicked him out for physically abusing his now ex-girlfriend.

He'd raped before, and DNA evidence eventually Linked him to four other unsolved rapes over the past two years. This time, he was dumb enough to go prowling under the same darkened streetlight where he'd snatched

Danielle. This time, the coed managed to get to her whistle. This time, heightened security had gotten on the scene before he could get away.

I count myself very Lucky that two girls who meant the world to me had their attackers caught. The grim reality was that a lot of sick fuckers got away with it.

Both Amber and Danielle were on my shoulders crying after they heard the news, but after that, there were no more tears. My girls were strong.

It was inevitable that Cherys would find out what had happened to

Danielle.

Danielle didn't go to work for a few days, just mentally regrouping after everything she'd been through. My guess is that word got to

Cherys through some of Danielle's coworkers after that brief absence.

Maybe the news got to her a different way. But however she found out, the upshot is that Cherys suddenly arrived at the door on Thursday night, her eyes wild as she immediately begged, "Tell me where she is!"