died my

14

5/15

PART 2

Katherine’s shock was palpable as the situation spiraled out of control.

“Terry, I didn’t mean for this to happen. I was only thinking of you,” she sputtered, scrambling for justification.

Terry fixed her with a long, hard stare that seemed to accept her words.

But I knew better; his eyes betrayed a flicker of doubt he couldn’t hide.

He stumbled out of the morgue, nearly tripping at the door.

Whether from grief or fear, it was hard to tell.

Katherine, though, remained smugly oblivious to Terry’s strange behavior.

In that moment, I knew something had shifted irreversibly.

I watched it all unfold with a detached gaze. With my mother gone, I had no more ties to this world.

All that was left was to witness their inevitable drift apart.

15

On the drive back, Katherine’s joy was palpable.

Terry’s gaze toward her had shifted, now tinged with subtle

annoyance.

In his mind, Katherine was supposed to be innocent and kind. Her glee at my death felt deeply wrong, especially considering how heroic she’d seemed during our kidnapping.

“Terry,” she’d said then, “you chose Wendy. Knowing you has been the highlight of my life. She’s your wife, and I’d gladly sacrifice myself for the one you love.”

“If only I could meet you first in our next life.”

Such a moving declaration of undying love.

Meanwhile, I was being tortured, gagged and trembling in the corner, forced to watch it all unfold.

6/15

Katherine’s shock was palpable as the situation spiraled out of control.

“Terry, I didn’t mean for this to happen. I was only thinking of you,” she sputtered, scrambling for justification.

Terry fixed her with a long, hard stare that seemed to accept her words.

But I knew better; his eyes betrayed a flicker of doubt he couldn’t hide.

He stumbled out of the morgue, nearly tripping at the door. Whether from grief or fear, it was hard to tell.

Katherine, though, remained smugly oblivious to Terry’s strange behavior.

In that moment, I knew something had shifted irreversibly.

I watched it all unfold with a detached gaze. With my mother gone, I had no more ties to this world.

All that was left was to witness their inevitable drift apart..