There are a number of reasons why people write; sometimes it’s a coping mechanism to get them through the day or to grasp the realities of their lives, an outlet to get bottled up feeling out into the universe. There was a student, a young woman that attended my class under the strong recommendation of her therapist. Some kind of traumatic experience happened and after a few years of countless sessions it was suggested that she find an outlet to express herself.
The young woman seemed normal enough, nothing really stood out so I was a little baffled at why there was such a strong recommendation to take a writing class. That was until I began reading some of her writings. It was a sad story about her family and the events of the last few years. But as the class continued I witnessed huge strides in personality and confidence. Throughout the year he writings even became more cheerful with an underlining feeling of acceptance. I think a large part of that was a reconnection to an old friend that soon developed into more. She began to smile more, less jumpy, nervous, and wary of people. She didn’t just reconnect with an old friend but also with civilization and humanity.
Shortly after the semester ended her relationship progressed to the next step and she got married to the man that recently rejoined her life. I had attended their wedding, at least not in the physical form, and it was a small but lovely very intimate set up. It was just the two of them, the priest, and 2 of her closest friends. There was something very sweet and rewarding to see that moment in time knowing that she has had so much hard ship in the past. I would check in on her from time to time to see how she was and for months she was legitimately happy and finally living her life.
On the night that would be her last I phased out into her room to witness the final hour. When I arrived the newlyweds had been fighting. Some kind of argument had broken out and the two were screaming at each other. Before it could escalate to something physical she had enough mind to walk away and she had stormed out of the room and ran to the bedroom. There she frantically grabbed a bag from the closet and started to fill it with clothes. As they continued to scream at each other she lost focus with what she was doing and started clearing out his drawer. He quickly but not aggressively rushed her and asked her to stop, as if trying to protect a surprise or secret. From his drawer fell a box and as it hit the ground the most beautiful ring had fallen out. Both became speechless and the house quieted to nothing, both stood there frozen, eyes lock as a tear rolled down her cheek.
***
Some five years previous the young woman was working late one night at the local grocery store. Tired and exhausted from the mandatory overtime for inventory she left the grocery store as she had a hundred times before. When she arrived home she noticed that the front door was slightly opened and became irritated that her little brother again couldn’t shut the door correctly. As she approached the door she saw that the door wasn’t just open but looked like it was kicked in. Her heart began to race as she continued inside the house.
Once inside the house she saw that the in table was turned over, a potted plant had spilled across the floor, and broken glass everywhere. Realizing something was wrong she rushed up stairs. She yelled for her mom or dad, but there was no answer. Terror and fear filled her voice and she yelled and pleaded to have someone answer her. Before she reaches the top of the stairs an odor filled the air. She sees picture that had fallen off the walls many of them trampled upon. When she gets to the top she screamed in horror and dropped to her knees. Tears flowed from her face as she sees what that strange odor was.
She saw her father on the hallway face down and was illuminating from a hall night light she could tell he was covered in blood. She slowly crawled to him hesitating to reach him; he can’t be dead if she doesn’t confirm it, “he’s just hurt. He will be alright,” The fear that he was dead doesn’t exist if it’s not confirmed. When she reaches him she reaches for his neck and could fill no pulse and her heart drops. Sobbing she remembers mom, rises to her feet, and runs to their bedroom. From the door she knows there was no reason to continue as she sees the shadowy outline of a person in the bed surrounded in the crimson soaked moonlight. She fell again to her knees again crying fighting to keep the images out of her head.
The police arrived moments later responding to 911 calls from neighbors about some screaming that they heard. The police would spend the next several weeks investigating the incident trying to find any clue to whoever did this. After weeks of forensic tests and questions of a dozen people nothing had come up. There was hope that there was a break in the case 6 days into the investigation when a letter was received from the killer. The killer had written a more or less apology letter. The letter expressed remorse that the events of that night unfolded as they did and explained they were just needed some cash for a problem and had the man of the house just let him take what he wanted it never would have become what it was. The police thought that they had their break in the case but while exhausting every resource and perusing every angle and lead the case soon became cold. At the end of the investigation it was deemed a cold case and was classified as a robbery gone wrong.
Disappointed with the local police and their inability to find any answers to the viscous slaying of her family, she quickly fell into a depression. Seeking help from grief counselors and a therapist she would spend the next 5 years coping with this tragedy. After countless hours of counseling and therapy sessions she would eventually be able to live alone, be out after dark, and trust people again. She would even take the advice of her therapist and enroll into school; the idea was to rejoin society now that she has started to cope with her loss and it would be the first steps into gain her life back. During that first year back she did just that, she reconnected with friends, interacted and socialized with others, learned she had a wonderful skill in writing, and even found a husband. She moved beyond the misery of losing her family and had found the start of a new family.
***
From his drawer fell a box and as it hit the ground the most beautiful ring had fallen out. Both became speechless and the house quieted to nothing, both stood there frozen, eyes locked as a tear rolled down her cheek. She bent down to look at the ring; it was the most beautiful ring she had ever seen. He stopped dead in his tracks and stared trying to feel out her reaction. Still bent over she slowly lifted her head to look at her husband. He tried to speak but there was nothing.
Slowly she stood up and still looking at him gives a look of confusion. His eyes saddened.
“I can explain…” he began.
“Why do you have my grandmother’s ring?” she asked.
All he could do was repeat, “I can explain, I can explain. Please listen and give me a chance to explain.”
Her face quickly changed to horror, and she began screaming. Panic stricken her loving husband tackled her to the bed and she continued to scream. Trying to quiet and calm her down he covers her mouth to silence the screams and whispers again, “I can explain.”
Terror and disgust filled her eyes as she struggled to break free. She bit down on his hand, drawing blood; in pain he removed his hand only to let out the screams of a woman who knows the truth. Continuing to panic and fear of being bit again he placed his hands around her neck; doing anything he could to quiet her. The struggle continued for a short moment; both of their eyes filled with tear, one was with sadness for a lost family and the other filled with fear and remorse. Still whispering for her to stop and listen to him, her body soon stopped struggling. As he wiped the tears from his eyes he had thought she was ready to listen. With the tears freed from his face he stared down at her and slowly with head held low I stood and walked out.
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