Kiss It Better

Part 2: Kiss it Better ~ Chapter 8 (June 2022)

Now she sits behind prison bars, 25 to life and she's not in her arms. She couldn't bring her back with a bullet to the heart of the back of a man who tore her world apart. She holds onto a memory. All it is, is a memory. She cries, "Stay with me until I fall asleep."

"Mrs. Rose Ruvelle has been found guilty on two counts of murder in the first degree and will be given a sentencing of twenty-five years to life without parole. No bail is to be set." Judge Dennis Chambers said, slamming the gavel on the sound block, putting the motion into effect.

Rose's heart stopped and tears hit her eyes. "What? But I didn't mean to kill them! I mean I did, but that's because they were putting my family's life at risk! They killed my wife and my child and I'm the one being punished for it? Your Honour, with all due respect, this ruling is ridicu-"

"Mrs. Ruvelle, I understand that you are a successful lawyer and you think you know the law, but you're fooling yourself if you think you can get a better deal. You killed those women. According to your testimony, you said that you stabbed Patricia Frasier as many times as you could. The autopsy report showed Ms. Frasier had been stabbed thirty-four times, but the fatal blow was your fourth strike. That is thirty stabs more than what it took to kill her, yes?"

"Yes, Your Honour, but-"

"No buts, Mrs. Ruvelle." Judge Chambers reprimanded. "Officer Cordero, please escort Mrs. Ruvelle to the California Correctional Institution in Tehachapi."

"Michael, please! There has to be something you can do?" Rose begged the husband of her former English teacher.

"I'm sorry, Rose. I can't. Just be smart and please come with me."

"Michael, come on!"

"No, Rose. Let's go." He said, gently grabbing her arm and pulling her out of the courtroom.

"No!" Rose yelled, ripping her arm away. "I'm not going to jail for some bogus charge! Michael, you know me! You know that I wouldn't kill them just to kill them! Yes, in the past I was mixed up in somethings with my mother, but Luisa changed me."

"Rose, just do as you're told. I don't want to have to force you to go."

"You're not forcing me to do anything. I lost the love of my life," Rose's voice began to crack and shake as she spoke and tears threatened to fall. "I lost my daughter, to those murderers and I'm the one going to jail? How is that fair?"

"It isn't, but-"

"I lost everything." Rose whispered, tears falling down her cheeks and her voice all watery. "I lost my wife, my daughter, my job, my house, I might as well have just died there that night. I don't know how I'm supposed to carry on."

"It will be hard, but I know you can do it, Rose. You're a strong woman and you'll make it through this. You know Luisa would want you to try."

"Don't you dare speak for Luisa. You don't know what she would've wanted."

"Mr. Cordero." Judge Chambers demanded. "Can you handle this or should I have another officer come take her for you?"

"Yes, Your Honour, I can handle it." Michael said, turning to Rose. "I'm not trying to speak for her, but you and I both know it's true. Just come on, please. Don't make this hard for yourself."

"Can I at least have some of Luisa and Mia's things? I need something to hold onto."

"If you come with me, I will make sure you do." Michael promised. Rose nodded and let him take her away.

~~~~~

A month later, Rose was in her cell, laying on her bed, covering her head, and closing her eyes. She felt the coldness of the metal from her locket as she clung onto a photograph of her and Luisa -- taken the day they found out Lu was pregnant -- and a little pink blanket that was going to be Mia's. She didn't have the chance to sew in her name since they had just picked it the day before.... that day.'

Rose liked to imagine what their life could've been. She imagined Luisa having to travel the world at other hospital's requests because she was just that damn good. She imagined herself being drowned in cases of all different kinds because everyone wanted her to fight for them. She imagined Mia being the sweetest little blessing she ever had. Watching her grow into a phenomenal woman that would travel to Mars, be a top notch firefighter, or even a doctor or lawyer like her mothers. It didn't matter what her job was, Rose knew Mia would've kicked ass.

She imagined this life that she is never going to have because she wasn't at home to protect her wife, her daughter, the loves of her life, on the day that they needed her most.