The Target

The Body!

"Well? Is it her?" The cop asked. Unable to hold back my tears, I ran back to my car. Adam stayed with the police, probably confirming that it was Grace. I was leaning against the car door, hand on my mouth, eyes red from all the crying, and unable to breathe.

So much has happened in one night. It was too much to take in. Why? What have I done? The image of Grace couldn't leave my mind even after Adam brought me back home. The image of her impaled body was still lingering. Her body was almost unrecognizable. There were stab wounds, marks around the neck, and two missing fingers. It was horrible!!

Adam stayed the night, or what was left of it. It was already 4.30 am when we came back home. I slept in, next morning. The headache was still there. Adam got me breakfast in bed. I hadn't eaten anything for the last 14 hours. "No. I don't want to!" I said, pushing the table in front of me. I didn't feel like eating. How could I? Grace died because I couldn't look after her. And not just any death. She died in the most gruesome way I could think of.

*Adam's P.O.V.*

Amy won't eat anything. If she doesn't eat something and take her pills, she might start cutting again. She blames herself for Grace's death. But she couldn't have done anything.

"Amy, just eat. You need to take your medicines." I pleaded her. She pushed the table and said, "No. I don't want to!" I shook my head and tried once more. She just resisted. I removed the table from front of her and hugged her, tightly. She needed it.

"Do Jan and Baron know?" she asked. I shook my head. No one had the courage to describe the situation to Grace's parents.

*Amy's P.O.V.*

"I'll call them." It only made sense that they hear it from someone they trusted. Even though it was hard for me to accept, I decided to break the news calmly.

A loud sob broke out at the other end. I could hear Baron calming Jan, but nothing was soothing her. They decided to fly to Manhattan for her last rites. I felt horrible giving them the news of their daughter's death.

Grace had a brother but he was a frontline fighter. So, we couldn't reach him. Though we did inform the head office to give him the news.

Jan hugged me as soon as she saw me at the airport. We hadn't seen each other in two years. She thought of me as a daughter, mostly because I was at the Henderson's place more than mine. Baron was quite pale when he saw me. "He was right. I shouldn't have let her go alone. He was paranoid and I stopped him. I trusted my daughter but, look at her now." Jan said, putting her things down on the sofa.

A beautiful memorial was held. Everyone spoke great things about her. Some of her many friends came too. People really loved her. And how could they not? She was an awesome person. When it was my turn to speak at the podium, I couldn't say anything. I stood there, frozen, thinking of how Adam brought her to me and the smile she flashed when I opened the door.

The next thing I know was a pair of hands on my shoulder. Lewis came to the podium to get me down.

When I reached home with Jan, Baron, Lewis, Harry, and Adam, I went straight to the bathroom. I opened the cabinet and threw all my pills into the sink. What is their use if they can't help me in this situation? All my anxiety came rushing back. I looked at the scars on my wrist. As I ran my finger through them, the door swung open. 

Adam grabbed my hand and dragged me out. "Are you crazy?!" He screamed at me. "What do you think you are doing?" He went back inside and saw my pills all over the sink and some on the floor. I was looking down when Adam came back. I slowly lifted my head to meet his teary eyes. "Don't do it! It's not worth it." He held my face with his hands. I nodded and we went back outside. The whole day went quietly. Jan and Baron stayed at my place for a day or two more and went back to Melbourne. Lewis and Harry went back to their apartments. Adam stayed with me.

I tried concentrating at work, but it was hard. Mr. Hugh knew about the situation in my house, so, he let my mistakes slide.

I was broken. When will I regain my confidence?