Couldn't Lie (To Him)

by AnneFoster

Adam survived his game, but that was just the beginning. Lawrence is an apprentice, the final pawn left behind. No matter what, Adam needs to find a way to shut down Jigsaw and his games once and for all. With Lawrence by his side. He refuses to be the one to leave a friend behind. This time, HE will do the saving. Whatever it takes. Part Three of the Series of Lies

13. Epilogue

It was quiet in the car.

Adam had thought about playing music on his drive over, but nothing felt appropriate. Playing a bunch of childhood songs seemed too predictable, and his new music always rubbed his folks the wrong way.

Honestly, the silence was comforting, no matter how long that took. It let him think.

Nothing had happened with Hoffman, at least as far as he knew. Lawrence threw him in the bathroom, apparently said a cool catchphrase that he was proud of and tossed the remaining hacksaw away.

Months later, Adam still didn't leave his apartment without looking over his shoulder, but he was getting there. Progress, it was all he could hope for. Life wasn't like it used to be, but he and Pam were making a new one, and Lawrence was building one for himself. One that Adam was thrilled to be a part of. And they knew that they made it.

One step at a damn time.

He parked in the street, across from his parents' house. Figured parking in the driveway could be too much, could freak them out with a guest that they hadn't expected. And they still didn't know he was alive. He had picked up the phone so many times, but Adam never knew what to say.

Adam had finally applied to a university nearby. It had a vet school, and had conditionally accepted him, providing he kept his GPA as high as it was.

And it was finally time to tell them. Just like he had dreamed of in that damn house. That shithole bathroom, once upon a time. Adam got out of the car and closed the door, and he walked up the cobblestone path that at one point, he thought he'd never get to walk again.

The bushes were neat cut, just like they always were. And the door was polished, they still had the welcome mat that he had wiped his shoes on every day before coming home. He knocked slowly, and then he stepped back. He cleared his throat and messed with his shirt, heart pounding in his chest as he waited to see the familiar face.

One that he had fought so damn hard to come back to.

And when she opened the door, his breath should've caught in his throat. He should have stammered off a million words that she would never understand and cried on her shoulders for hours.

But instead, he smiled at her, and a tear ran down his face.

Because finally, no matter how far out of the realm of possibility it once seemed, Adam was home.

"Hey, Mom."