Unspoken Desires

57.) Devastated

Gertrude sits at the table, absentmindedly stirring her coffee. Ava and Chloe join her with solemn expressions.

Ava sighs, "It's been a month, Grandma Gertrude. A whole month since we've heard from Martha. I'm starting to worry."

Gertrude held back her tears, "I can't help but wonder what happened. Did we do something wrong? Did she find new friends?"

Chloe broke down into tears, "I miss her so much. Our breakfasts together were the highlight of my week. We laughed, shared stories, and supported one another. Now, it feels like there's a void in my life."

Gertrude's grip on her coffee mug tightens, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ava spoke, "Perhaps something happened in her life that she's struggling with. We shouldn't jump to conclusions. Maybe she just needs some space."

Chloe cries, "But a whole month without a word? It's hard not to take it personally."

Silence settles over them as they contemplate the weight of Martha's absence. The clinking of cutlery and the distant sound of traffic outside are the only sounds in the room.

Their eyes glued to the television. The news anchor's voice echoes through the room.

"In a tragic turn of events, a woman's body was found being brutally chopped and her body parts were placed altogether inside a luggage, her legs and arms were at the side of her body, her eyeballs were ripped and being shoved inside her mouth and her fingers were chopped as well, her fingers were also shoved inside her mouth, according to her ID, her name is Martha Castella La Ayala, she was found dead at 5:50 am"

Gertrude's hand flies to her mouth, her eyes wide with shock. Ava gasps, her hand trembling as she reaches for Chloe's, who clutches it tightly.

Ava gasps, "No... No, this can't be happening. Martha..."

Suddenly, the doorbell rang, and Chloe got up to answer it. When she opened the door, she was met with a police officer who had a grim expression on his face.

The officer cleared his throat and began to speak. "I'm sorry to inform you that we have found the body of your relative, Martha. It appears that her body has been chopped up and placed inside a suitcase."

Chloe, Ava, and Gertrude all began to cry uncontrollably.

Gertrude was the first to speak. "How could someone do this to her? She was such a kind and gentle soul. Who would do something so cruel?"

Ava was too overcome with emotion to speak. She just sat there, tears streaming down her face. Chloe tried to console her, but it was no use.

The officer continued. "We are still investigating the case, but it appears that Martha was murdered. We are doing everything we can to find the person responsible."

Chloe, Ava, and Gertrude all looked at each other in disbelief. They had no words to express the pain and sorrow they were feeling. All they could do was hug each other and cry.

The officer left, and the three women were left alone in the living room. They all just sat there, in silence, trying to process the news they had just heard. After a few moments, Chloe finally spoke.

"We have to find out who did this to Martha. We have to make sure that justice is served."

Ava and Gertrude both nodded in agreement. They all knew that they had to do something to make sure that Martha's killer was brought to justice.

The three girls hugged each other tightly, and vowed to do whatever it took to make sure that Martha's killer was brought to justice.

Tears stream down Gertrude's face as she collapses onto the couch, her body wracked with sobs. Ava and Chloe join her, their grief intertwining as they hold each other, their cries echoing through the room.