Red Ribbons on Her Wrists

Things take a turn for the worse

Smith: You didn't! I exclaim with glee, at his brazenness and chivalry. I can't believe her brother was so twisted for being so "normal" actually an overachiever outwardly.

Young: I couldn't help myself, I know I caused a sick man more grief. I felt it was justified though. I went home to Thalia and I think I hugged her for two days straight, I couldn't imagine living in that nightmare. Eventually she got the courage to ask what he said and I knew I'd never be able to repeat what he said so I just played her the recording.

Smith: Poor girl, how'd she take it?

Young: Admirably. She huffed at a few parts, her eyes went teary once but over all she fought her emotions and after she'd heard it through she asked if I honestly believed her dad did it.

Smith: Did you?

Young: Of course not, I honestly and it's disgusting but I honestly wanted to believe it. I couldn't though, after interviewing all my main suspects I started to believe she'd done this to herself. I hated the idea of it but how could I fight the evidence. Abusive boyfriend, sexually abusive brother, cold uncaring parents, and taunting peers. Not to mention her dreams were being crushed before her eyes, she wouldn't be able to attend her school because her parents decided to foot the bill for her brother. I looked at those red ribbons on her slim wrists and I tried to place blame on the others, Kyle would grab her wrists so hard they'd turn red, perhaps her brother tied her up before he raped her, her dad I couldn't figure out how he'd tie into that proving even stronger my greatest fear. Thalia had gone away somewhere very remote, hidden and slit her beautiful tiny wrists. I could picture it my head. She walked into a wooded area, tears burning her cheeks, she walked until her fit body couldn't walk anymore and then she found somewhere to hide. She had a sharp razor blade in her hand and she cried harder. She thought about her life, and how empty and worthless it was and she dug the blade deeply into her right wrist because she was a lefty. Down and down deeper and deeper she winced from the pain. After the first cut she hesitated, she thought maybe the future could be brighter, maybe she'd meet someone wonderful, she could get a job and pay her own way through school, then the ghosts came back. Faces of her taunters and tormentors danced behind her tear soaked eyelids and she slid the blade lighter down her right wrist. She curls up in the leaves and dirt she's sobbing now, but she's smiling too because now it'll finally be over. I saw that scenario play over and over in my mind all day everyday as I closed my eyes. At night I'd have nightmares of it, it consumed me I was sure we'd finally figured out what happened to Thalia James. Like I said for weeks I moped around, Thalia sat quietly as I processed my knew knowledge. Then one day she snapped. I was playing Clair De Lune, wallowing in self pity and the next thing I knew she was in front of me, glaring. The intensity in her eyes was unnervingly painful, like a thousand needles being shoved under your fingernails. For a second, only one I was afraid of her, but then I realized I'd accepted her other emotions without hesitation, she was my girlfriend in all other aspects, save her anger. So I reared up quickly knocking the bench over in a rage. I heard a floor board crack under the weight of it.

L.Y. What? I spit words made of venom at her. Again for a second she looked shocked then the anger was back.
T.J. You know what! Don't play dumb, so I killed myself! It's sad but were both  almost entirely sure I did it. I had a shit life, I know others have it bad too, but that day I'm sure I felt horrible, like my whole world was spiraling out of control! I don't blame me, in fact I've forgiven me! So why can't you forgive me Landon? How dare you mope around here like I hurt you, like you've lost someone and I'm the murderer. You've only known me like this, you lost nothing you've just find out how I got this way. I'm still here, and I can't take you punishing me anymore.
L.Y. Punishing you! I'm not punishing you, but I am grieving over you! I'm allowed to grieve for what you could of been, I don't blame you. I blame everyone around you! I hate the lot of them, they were horrible indecent people and I'll never forgive them, but I don't have to forgive you. Because I don't blame you, I love you the way you are and when I die, I'll be with you forever. I'll wait out my life right here until I can be with you the way I was meant too. I was heaving and she looked ashamed, she looked sorry. We stared at each other quietly, as she took in what I said and I tried to come to terms with what I had just said. I knew I loved her, but I didn't know if I was going to stay there until that moment. Part of me still thought that maybe id move out and find a real life with a real girl, get a real degree and have a real family. After I said it allowed though I knew I'd stay there with her, forever.
T.J. I'm sorry Landon, for everything.

I told her not to be and I went to lift of the bench If knocked over in a rage. It was heavy and when I heaved it up right I noticed a crack in the floor. Shit I said aloud, I showed Thalia and then was stomping around having a fit about having to fix the broken floor board when I realized the wood was a different color.
L.Y. Hey, this is new it's not like the rest of the floor. She sighed like so what Landon, hold on. I lifted the carpet and saw about a foot of floor board was unfinished and a light oak color compared to the dark walnut surrounding it. I grabbed the splintered piece and pulled forcefully until it came loose with another crack. Underneath it was dark so I grabbed my phone and turned on the flashlight. I moved some crumpled newspaper and my hand touched a glass jar. I lifted it from it's spot and almost immediately dropped it. Holy shit!
T.J. What Landon, what is it?

I held the jar up for her to see fighting the urge to vomit, she gasped and then started shaking. She asked are those mine? I shrugged and gagged I didn't know but upon closer inspection, I nodded and then threw up all over my carpet.

Smith: What? What was in the jar Landon? He shuffles and pulls something from his left and sets it on the table. In front of me is a glass jar full of teeth, and a lock of curly hair tied in a red ribbon. There's more then one persons teeth in here, who's are they.

Young: well their Thalia's... And mine.