The Secret Outside Her Window

Burning Ice

The music blasted as Cora washed the blood off her hands with the hose water and started to whimper.  She was being exposed to the red liquid that gushed out of the wound caused by blunt force, causing the skull to cave in, cracking the bone, causing severe damage to the brain, and leaving an open wound that – without immediate pressure – would cause the victim to die within seconds. She threw up in a plant pot to her right, feeling like her insides were being pinched and twisted.  Her head felt too heavy for her body as she stumbled onto the ground, dizziness encompassing her body and covering her eyes.  There was so much blood, too much blood, and if she didn't start cleaning up, she would pass out.  The inevitability of life flew through Cora's mind as she started to think about all the things that she has done wrong. 

                                                                     ...One week before the incident...

The sun shone through the fake gardens, fake trees and fake flowers that were orderly planted in the soil.  Except for Cora's, of course.  She cared deeply about the nutritious benefits of gardening and how it can affect the soil and how it looks beautiful.  Although it takes more time, Cora seems to have all the time in the world.  Flexible job hours and no friends to speak of, Cora had so much free time, she spent more time painting and gardening than anything else.  Now caring for Prince was being added to the list.  Cora's mother also defines her day based on the alters of which she has taken.  Cora's mom's alters all acknowledge the fact that they have a multiple personality disorder and have organized a system all orchestrated by Ava, the strict and principal-like side of Cora's mom.

Cora didn't always have a good relationship with her mother; for an entire year after Cora ran away, they didn't talk to each other much.  Cora relied mostly on her goth boyfriend for her emotional needs.  There is nothing more rebellious than dating a bad boy to enrage a parent and further separate a daughter and her mother. It was only when the bad boy and the mother got a serious conversation did she realize that the bad boy personality is just an act.  The mother then approved of the boyfriend, making the daughter furious who promptly dumped him and searched for another young boy to stick her tongue down his throat.  

This feud laster the first half of high school after finding out that she had daddy issues and decided to fill the gaping hole with any man.  Her standards truly hit the floor.  For a brief time, she was addicted to Xanax and refused to take care of her body, despite all of her mother's worrying.  She lost all of her friends and got the nickname of Coraline when she came to class constantly with clothes that were loose over her skinny body and only accentuated the dark circles under her eyes, with dyed black hair just like the creepy doll in Coraline. 

Cora washed the black hair dye out when she realized that her mom isn't the bad guy and Cora's mom realized that instead of trying to control Cora's decisions, she should support them.  Now, most of the alters agreed with that thought except Ava, who decided to keep Cora grounded, because, who else would?

It was Diana who helped Cora dig the hole that would contain the azalea bush.  She had put her hair in a loose bun where the whisps of hair stuck to her forehead sweat.  Cora was thankful for Diana's assistance, though she didn't tell her.

With a shovel in one hand, a glass of coke in the other, and a pair of gardening gloves on both, Diana shoveled out dirt from the ditch that was growing deeper by each passing minute.  Slowly but surely they dug a large enough hole for them to place the large plant in.  

The clouds had been looming over the suburbs and threatened a storm.  Its color ranged from a dark grey to an even darker grey. Cora could feel it's pressure under her eyes and beneath her scalp.  As they worked a sprinkle started, and then the rain.

They left in a rush after they were finished when it began pouring like God was pouring buckets of water over their heads that made the soil all mushy and their clothes all muddy. Their clothes were soaked and they stripped their clothes down in the bathroom and took a shower while listening to the rain outside.

...Six days before the incident... 

9:30am Cora woke up and drank her regular coffee/alcohol mix

10:00am she noticed the black car in front of her car which looked familiar

10:01am she recognized the driver as being the one who dropped of Callan and her

10:59am the limo left 

11:45am Prince was starting to feel more comfortable with Cora

12:00am Cora prepared a quick instant noodles lunch and began to prepare for work

1:00pm Cora arrived at the Emerald and worked with Piper preparing drinks

2:27pm Callan arrived at the Emerald and ordered a drink that Cora had to prepare

2:45pm Callan tried to talk to Cora

3:00pm Callan still hadn't left and Cora was still feeling uncomfortable

4:00pm Cora told her supervisor about Callan who was still at the bar

4:01pm Callan left the bar and his car was gone under further investigation

6:57pm Cora thought she heard her bushes rattling when she was taking the bath 

1:16am Cora went to bed 

5:34am Cora finally fell asleep