The Morning After - Open Novella Contest 2019

Chapter 11 - Epilogue

4 months later...

MARINA

Emmett squeezed Marina's hand tight in his own. She chewed anxiously on her lower lip, trying her best to keep herself contained.  Thanks to Emmett reminding her to take her medicine, she was feeling normal again. But even that wasn't enough to prepare her for what she faced now.

"All rise." The bailiff said with a plain tone as the chamber doors reopened. Marina stood and pulled her pencil skirt down subconsciously.  She hated this stupid blazer and pencil skirt she had been forced to wear. Although she had testified yesterday, the prosecution wanted her to look professional. Better for the jury.

She had watched the entire case with great care. Marina and Emmett didn't miss a day in court. The prosecution's evidence was damning.  Between the texts and Isabelle's video, it was an easy decision for the jury. Marina's video had not been allowed in court, as it was technically illegal. However, the tape did grant the FBI some leverage over Jeff's co-conspirators, who turned on him immediately. The jury only took one day to deliberate.

"You may be seated." Judge Bradshaw's voice echoed through the chamber. No one dared whisper a solitary word. "Will the defendant please rise?"

Jeff Cox stood in his prison orange, every inch a guilty man. His face was forlorn by maltreatment. His hands shook within his shackles. Even his fingernails were worn from obvious biting. This was a man who knew his life was ending.

It was kind of funny to see him like this, in a strange way. It felt cathartic. Jeff had requested a plea deal. Something silly like involuntary manslaughter. But the prosecution had refused. They wanted to see him fry for this. The murder, unfortunately, had taken a back seat. The conspiracy and bribery charges were most important now.

"And you the jury, how do you find the defendant?"

An older African-American woman stood to speak. Her hair flamed about her like a crown. Marina couldn't help but envision her as a goddess. A goddess handing out divine judgment.

"On the charge of bribery of a government official, we find the defendant guilty. On the charge of conspiracy to commit a criminal offense, we find the defendant guilty. On the charge of first-degree murder, we find the defendant guilty."

Judge Bradshaw nodded and prepared to dispense judgment.

"Jeff Cox, on the charge of bribery, I sentence you to 10 years. On the charge of conspiracy, I sentence you to 10 years. On the charge of first-degree murder, I sentence you to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30. These are to be served consecutively. Do  you understand me, Mr. Cox?"

"Yes, Your Honor."

Jeff's face sunk. He stood there as motionless as a scarecrow. If Marina hadn't been able to feel his phantom fist across her jaw, she might have found a shred of sympathy for him. But not now. Not while her side still ached.

"Court adjourned."

Two guards descended like vultures upon Jeff and began dragging him away. Off to the rest of his life. But at least he had a life to spend in prison, Isabelle would never. Marina and Emmett didn't speak until they were in Marina's car. There was nothing to say, and yet too much to talk about.

"How do you feel?" Marina asked Emmett.

"Honestly? I'm conflicted."

"Yeah. Me too."

"On one hand, I hate him. I hate that he has taken so much of my life from me. I hate that he is still breathing and Isabelle is in the ground. I hate that."

"I know. It isn't fair."

"And you know what's messed up? I feel bad for him. How awful is that?"

"Why do you feel bad for him, Emmett?"

"Because every day for the rest of his life, he will be forced to think of Isabelle. Her face will haunt his dreams. The what if's will never leave him alone. And I get to move on. I get to live my life and move on."

"But he deserves to be haunted after everything he has done!"

"Maybe. Maybe not. All I know is, I don't want to waste another second of my life on him. I refuse to let him steal any more of my  happiness."

"I think that's a good way of looking at things."

"Looks like your positivity is rubbing off on me," Emmett said with a smile as he moved his hand and perched it on Marina's knee. He made her feel invincible. Marina would never have been able to testify against Jeff without his help. With him by her side, they could finally work towards healing. Together.

***
6 months later...

MARINA

It took me almost a year to finally set my experience to paper. I went into the investigation with writing my story as my almost exclusive motivator. But afterward, I found it difficult to write.  There's an irony there. I wanted to expose these powerful men and send them crashing to their knees. But now, I realize I was focused on the wrong thing. Too blinded by my selfishness to find the purpose in this story. Everything has a purpose.

Perhaps I had difficulty writing because I was still traumatized. A wound still festering cannot be touched, let alone exposed to the world. Laid bare in all its infection.

Perhaps I felt too much guilt. Guilt for my own criminal role in things. Guilt for the evil depths of myself I discovered. The harsh reality of the person I was capable of being.

But it was neither.

As I healed, I swore I would never waste another breath on him.  I never wanted to speak his name or picture his cruel face again. But to keep that piece of me so distant was to be unwell. To be fractured.

I refuse to split myself into pieces as I once did. Every human has a great capacity for evil. And I have experienced my own demons first hand.  I was impulsive. Reckless. Stupid. All in the vain pursuit of fame. Toward the end I pursued justice, but it started in a selfish place all the same.

Even now as I write, I don't know what I intend to do with these writings.  I desire so completely to keep them for myself. A constant reminder of my lowest day. But I've realized the only way to overcome my own vanity is by destroying this work.

And now, here is where you come in, my dear reader. I'm not sure how you found this, but that is not important. I thought this story was about Jeff, but it was about Isabelle. In the beginning, it was all too easy for me to hate Isabelle. I couldn't understand how she could leave a man like Emmett. But in the end, even I was manipulated by Jeff. Abuse is abuse, no matter the circumstance. We vilify the abuser, yet we forget the victim's name. I refuse to forget.

Isabelle Marie Taylor. Maiden name Medrano. A 26-year-old bright eyed elementary school teacher. She coached her local school's little league team on the weekends. She loved Harry Potter and instilled a love of reading into the kids she taught. She is remembered as a consistent and caring woman who loved seeing her students succeed.

If you're reading this, learn from her story and know that help is not far away. Compassion waits on bated breath for you to reach your trembling arms toward her. Don't wait until it is too late to ask for help.

As I bury this book in the ground next to her plot, I bury a piece of me. But not so that it can stay buried. No. I'm planting this book alongside a sapling. That way one day, long after I'm gone, her memory will remain. Her spirit shading little ones as she did in life. A physical reminder of those two precious lives lost. These words are etched on her tombstone.

Here lies Isabelle Marie Taylor. Gone, but never forgotten.

***

Chapter 11 word count: 1,320
FINAL word count : 22,973