Aurora 2025 with cover

Justin Sullins

The Hollow Paul spent a week in town before returning Angie’s call. He dated her back in high school for two years before they stopped talking, much like most teenage relationships. Paul was only back in town for the funeral. There was no other reason he would ever return to this place, but he owed it to Austin’s parents. He even planned to give them some money to help with the funeral costs. His life in New York was much better, and he didn’t have to worry about people knowing what happened. He couldn’t escape the past no matter how hard he tried. Once the case was printed in the town newspaper, his reputation was over. He agreed to meet Angie because she was one of the only people who didn’t hold a grudge against him. They had lit someone’s house on fire and burned it to the ground. She was involved in the case but got away with it, and was she grateful she didn’t get caught. He spent six months in juvenile prison for arson. It would have been longer if Austin’s dad wasn’t friends with the judge and all the other police in the town. Austin was able to avoid any punishment for his involvement in the crime. Paul still had to serve time because it would have looked bad if he got away with it. The people in the town talked about him like he was a hardened criminal. Paul had to move away because his reputation was so bad. He took the blame for the crime because it was his idea, and somehow Austin’s parents figured it out and forced him to confess. Austin had died in a car crash a few months ago. The driver had been drinking and left the house to get some food in town. Their cars collided as he crossed the main road and hit Austin’s car. Angie was heartbroken over his loss because she had started dating him

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