MARIEL

5~ Come Home ~

Tuesday, January 28th, 2020

'Thank you for joining us at 10 o'clock for your nightly news...'

The television flickered in the darkness of the Caravan living room. Rain spattered the windows; soft thunder rumbled. An engine muffler roared through the suburb.

Loosely clutching the box of Fruit Loops to her chest, Esther lay sprawled on the couch and sleepily stared at the television through half-lidded eyes. Her father, Todd, relaxed with his feet propped in his lounge chair. The man's head was tilted to the side a little. On and off, Todd dozed, jerking awake when a louder commercial startled him.

"Huh?" Todd would say, smack his lips a little, and straighten up in his seat in an effort to pay attention to the news.

"Go to bed," Esther would respond, and then shove another fistful of Fruit Loops into her mouth.

And they'd repeat the cycle.

Tonight, the news didn't have much to say. The weather, per usual, was warm. Kaemon Spears had the spotlight due to an upcoming rally. Nothing that fully captured her attention until -

'The investigation regarding the young man brutally beaten to death with a brick in an alleyway has been ongoing.'

The lounge chair creaked as Todd straightened.

Quickly, Esther's eyes widened, her teeth steadily crunching the cereal in her mouth. The speed of her breathing increased as she focused on the television, as she stared at the picture of Gabe, in his striped baseball clothes, grinning at the camera.

'Authorities are still asking for your help with finding the suspect. If you have seen this man and wish to remain anonymous while reporting, please call -'

Esther squinted at the television. On the screen was a fuzzy photograph of a man in a baseball cap and military camouflage pants.

'... goes by Haleef Kaseem,' the reporter continued.

"I hope they find that motherfucker," Esther spat. A piece of cereal fell from her mouth and landed on her chest. Angrily, she brushed it off.

"Yeah, squirt, me too," Todd murmured, twiddling his thumbs. "Makes no sense why anyone would kill Gabe." He glanced towards his daughter. "You doing okay, honey?"

Esther shrugged, tapping the power button to her phone again. Still nothing from Tira since they'd last talked a couple days ago. It irked her. She'd messaged Tira once, asking her how she was doing, and hadn't yet received a response. Likely, the officer was still recovering, but Esther desperately wanted the reassurance that she was okay... especially after seeing her dead's best friend's face on television, as well as seeing a tongueless Fr. Jerome in the hospital two days ago.

It seemed that those she cared about were constantly hospital bound. And yet, Esther remained untouched.

Just like her father had told her at Carolyn's funeral, referencing the day she'd been born.

'Squirt... I saw you die. The doctors did everything they could and they just couldn't save you.'

"Honey. You okay?" Todd's voice was more insistent.

Idly, Esther trailed her fingertips around the three scars on her abdomen. Still, she had no answer as to the reasoning of their appearance. Of course, another mystery to be solved that she hadn't the energy to investigate.

"Yeah, I'm fine, Dad." Her eyes rose to the television again. Rain slapped against the window.

"I just want to make sure, honey. After the assault and all, and even before that, you've been..."