The Anonymous

Chapter 37: Dilemma

With the discovery of Jessica Ford taking place almost four weeks ago, I was still on edge about everything. The funeral was last week, and the memorial celebration for Kendal Neel-Alexis was yesterday. I was invited to attend but, I respectfully declined both offers. I was still grief-stricken. To my surprised, I was told that Ashton was present at both ceremonies. Apart from me wanted to see him but, I knew it wasn't the appropriate time to confront him. Especially under these circumstances.

As I sat on my couch on a rainy, bloomy Saturday afternoon watching an interview with Jessica Ford on Talk of the Town. She seemed to be in better spirits. The Westworth family gave her money to help out with the baby. She was talking about her experiences and a new project she was working on. The interviewer even asked her if she's keeping the baby. Which she agreed. Jessica said, "even though Jérôme kept her locked up at house, he took good care of her and scheduled at-home doctor visitations." Apart from me felt uneasy hearing her praise him for practicing good xenia but, I can't judge someone who has gone throw such a traumatizing event.

My mother entered my apartment with groceries in hand. Foxy ran up to her, wagging her tail. She pulled them on the floor and proceed to put them away in their respective places. I felt bad for making my mom take on extra work. I notice she was dressed in her nursing uniform, she must be working the nightshift again.

"Aeon, the shops were all out of those little cookies you like. Maybe tomorrow, I'll stop by and see if they have them."

"Thanks, mom. It's ok, I'll try and look for them tomorrow by myself. You've done so much already."

"Oh, honey, don't worry. I know you haven't been yourself, I don't mind helping out. Now, I have work tonight if you need anything call me and don't forget to feed and walk Foxy."

Foxy is the family's dog, although secretly, my mother and Aria (kid sister) have adopted her. Anyways my mom is letting Foxy stay with me for a little while for what she calls "emotional support." Foxy has been a great help to my mother and sister especially in light of my father's death. So, I guess now its time to pass on the furry doggy.

That night, I made myself dinner, fed Foxy, and watched more television. Later, I took a hot bath, trying to once again clear my mind of the Greenwich Mansion. The more I tried to think about something else, the more Jérôme's face crept into my mind. I found myself over-analyzing everything about him. I realized there was so many red flags, and I never picked up on any of them. He had a thing for me because I resembled Jessica in some way. He wanted to have his cake and eat it too. Jérôme was probably ashamed of himself for liking his cousin. The recording of Ashton and Jérôme made so much sense now. Ashton said that he was sleeping with Jessica, and Jérôme implied that he believed what everyone said about him. I'm not sure what I did not look into that theory. Jérôme was a killer hiding in plain sight, and no one knew, or did they? Come to think of it, even when Jessica Ford was missing, he never showed remorse. He always had this happy go lucky energy about him no matter what.

As the quiet bathroom filled loudly with my thoughts, everything I did wrong and everything I could have done better tormented me. I leaned back in the bathtub, looking up at the white ceiling, letting the haziness overtake me. Kendal's funeral had a black grey and purple theme.  Everyone stood up, facing forward to the black marble casket. The perimeter of the casket was covered with pale purple flowers. I was wearing a beautiful laced black dress and a hat with a veil. I was so uncomfortable and felt out of place. With eyes on me, I slowly walked towards the casket. Until I was directly in front of the chest. I leaned in slowly and saw a black hole inside. Goosebumps rose at the back of my neck. I quickly turned around and saw everyone standing behind me. Jumping out of fright, I had nowhere to run and hid. The pressure of a hand pushing me forward felt more like a punch. I fell forward into the blackness of the casket. A horrible noise screamed at me "It was supposed to be you," said the dark voice.