The Murder

It was September 5th. Jake and I have been together for 3 years today. It was our anniversary. And he forgot. Again. I shouldn't even be surprised anymore. A message... he sent me a message saying that he's hanging out with the guys today because there's some stupid football game. I decided to go to the mall to calm down and relax. Nothing like a good shopping spree to help you unwind. I was in my favorite shop when I bumped into someone, tripped and fell. But instead I was caught by strong arms and helped to my feet. " Careful there. You could hurt yourself. " As I looked up at the kind voice I saw a familiar face. "Hey Alex, thanks for catching me, and sorry for bumping into you. What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with Jake and the other guys watching some football game?" " Oh, I'm not a big fan of football... Wait... wasn't it you guys' anniversary today?" " Yeah... but apparently watching a bunch of idiots running after a ball is more important than me so..." "Well he's an ass for leaving you alone on your anniversary. I might be his best friend, but that doesn't mean I agree with what he's doing..." " Well, thanks. That means a lot." His eyes lit up with an idea as he smiled at me. " What do you say we go watch a movie and grab a bite to eat afterwards. I can't leave you sulking, now can I?" I smiled. He was the perfect guy. Kind. Friendly. Attentive.  Romantic. "That would be amazing..." I said quietly and we did. We got popcorn and drinks. We watched  a horror movie and my hand found his, squeezing it every time I was scared. We then went to a nice restaurant and he took me home to my apartment and kissed me on my doorstep. One thing led to another and I woke up in my bed next to him. We've been doing it ever since then. I know it's wrong. But honestly, Jake deserves it...

Two weeks later I was at the school to pick up my nephew, Sammy, like every other Thursday. I walked through the court yard and watched all the kids playing and running around. I liked kids a lot. I always wanted to have my own someday. I saw a boy and a girl playing tag. A couple of boys kicking a ball around and two girls sitting on a bench and chatting. The brown haired, Asian eyed girl laughed at a joke the blonde one said and looked at the watch on her wrist and stood up promptly. "Sorry Lilly... I need to run. My mom needs me home soon. " "Ok! Bye Charlie!" And she hugged her friend as she left. The blonde girl noticed a phone on the seat beside her and sighed " She would forget her head if it wasn't attached to her neck. I'll give it to her tomorrow. " I smiled at the encounter. It reminded me of Jenny and I when we were 13. My best friend would always leave stuff behind. My thoughts were interrupted by a loud squeal and a  little boy's arms wrapping around me. " Hey, auntie Emily!" "Hey there buddy! Did you have fun today?" " Yeah! We learned how to multiply!" "That's amazing! Come on. Your mom asked me to take you home. But maybe we can stop by the candy store and get you some sweets for doing a good job at school. Just don't tell your mom, ok?" He smiled for ear to ear and nodded vigorously as I put his backpack in the backseat.

The following Sunday night I was walking back from Alex's place while talking to Jenny on my phone. It was dark but the moon made it easy to see as well as the light along the street. I looked up at the stars dreamily. "I don't know what to do, Jenny... I'm sick of meeting with him in secret..." "I told you already. BREAK UP WITH THE GUY! He's never treated your right, and now you have a good reason to. Come on." " I just don't want to hurt Jake..." "Hey. He deserves it if you ask me... By the way... How have you been feeling? Still sick? It's been a couple of days, maybe you should go to a doctor..." " I'm alright. It's only in the morning anyway. I'm fine most of the day. It'll go away soon. Probably just ate something bad..." " For 3 days in a row?" " Ok ok... if it makes you feel better I promise I'll go to a doctor if i don't feel better tomorrow." "Ok. Where are you anyways? It's almost one in the morning." " I'm walking home. I just reached the bridge. I've only got a little while left." " You know, you shouldn't walk alone at night. You never know what can happen..." " Oh, please. You read too many murder mysteries..." "Ok ok. Hey I gotta go. Luis just made food. Call me when you get home, ok?" " Ok. Bye Jen!" " Bye Emily!" I put my phone in my jacket pocket and continued down the bridge. The click of my heals on the pavement and the rustling of leaves were the only sounds that could be heard. It was almost aerie. The trees were looming overhead and in the faint glow of the moon you could see little hints of yellow and orange that spotted their foliage. At the edge of the bridge on the path that led down to the river was a small puddle. It was strange since it hadn't rained in the last few days. As I slowly approached it, it looked dark. It wasn't water. I took out my phone and turned on the flashlight so I could see better and my heart stopped right in my chest. The damp ground was a dark red. Blood. It was blood. The grass was coated in it. And there were large bloody footprints. I turned the flashlight towards the river and a loud, high pitched scream escaped me. The cheerful brown haired girl that I saw at the school, talking and laughing with her friend, laid there. With her own tie wrapped tightly around her neck, bruised and beaten, with a pool of blood around her head. Her face was caught it a pained expression. Her clothes torn and bloodied. With my hands trembling I called the emergency service. My voice was wavering. I told the woman on the other side what I saw and waited there for the police to show up. My knees were wobbling and I couldn't stand anymore. I clung to the bridge railing as a man in police uniform approached me. I couldn't stay up anymore. My legs gave out. My grip on the railing loosened as my head began to hurt and black dots clouded my vision. "I don't... feel so good..." I said slowly. The officer put a hand on my arm trying to steady me. "Miss? Are you alright? Do you need us to call someone?" I managed to say one name before it all faded to black. "Alex"

I felt soft fingers caressing my hand as I opened my eyes. Alex was there. I was laying on a white bed and he was sitting on the edge. " Oh thank god!" He said and kissed my forehead. " You gave everyone a scare..." "What happened? Where are we?" "You're in the medical office at the police station. Jen is taking to them right now. Filling out your form. Jake is coming soon, too. They called me from your phone and asked me to come here. They said you told them my name before you blacked out. What do you remember?" " I was coming home from your place and I saw something at the bridge. It was a girl. Oh god! Is she dead?" " Yeah, I'm sorry. " " Oh god!" I slowly sat up. At that moment the door opened. Jake was standing there. "Alex? What the hell are you doing here?" " I just came to see how she's doing. I'm her friend you know..." Jake glared at him and sat down. "What the hell's going on Ems?" " I was going home and I... I saw a dead body. A girl. I called the cops and I guess I blacked out. " "Where were you?! What were you doing walking alone at night at almost 1 AM?!" "I... I was..." I swallowed and felt Alex's hand caress my back supportively. "She was coming back from my place." Said Jenny who just now entered the room. She hugged me tight. " Thank goodness you're ok..." "Why would she come back from your place? Why didn't she stay that night? Why didn't she come to mine. It's closer than hers?" " Too many questions. Your girlfriend..."  I saw Alex flinch at that. "...just found a dead body. Blacked out. And you're questioning her about nonsense. I bet you don't even know she's been sick the past few days!" Jen shouted at him. I whipped my head to her at the same time both guys looked at me. " Oops. Sorry Emily..." "You've been sick?" asked Alex concerned. "Why didn't you tell me?" said Jake outraged. "This isn't important right now! A girl was just murdered!" At that, the man from before entered the room. "Ah! I see you're finally awake! I hope you feel better! I'm officer Thomas Richards. I'll be taking on this case." " Please, if you may join me in the interrogation room so we could ask you some questions." "Pleasure to meet you officer Richards. Of course." "I'm coming with her!" Announced Jake "I'm afraid that won't be possible young man. You may wait in the hall but the interrogation is private." "Jake. It's ok. I can handle this." I responded firmly and he scowled.

I followed officer Richards in a small room. The walls and floor were tiled with white.  In the middle was a square table with two chairs that were facing each other. On the small table was a file and a voice recorder. The officer sat down and pointed to the chair opposite his. "Please take a seat. I will ask you some questions and then you will be free to go until we next need your assistance." "Of course " he pressed a button on the recorder and a light turned red. " Everything will be recorded for the purpose of this investigation. First of all please introduce yourself." " Alright. My name if Emily Brown. I am 19 years old. I study Computer engineering at the university and I have part time job as a retail employee at the local mall." " Tell me if and how you know the victim." " I do not know the girl personally. Only in passing. I saw her with her friend this Thursday when I went to pick up my nephew from school. I believe her name is... was Charlie." "Yes you are correct. Her name was Charlotte Lee. Tell me please the circumstances in which you found her body." I gulped slowly. Afraid of reminiscing of the horrors. "I was going home and by the bridge, I noticed a small puddle. I found it odd since it hadn't rained recently so I went closer to examine it. I turned on the flashlight of my phone and realized it was blood." A shiver ran up my spine " I then noticed the bloody footprints and followed them with the light and I saw the body. I then immediately called the emergency services. " "Ok thank you. Just one more question." "Where were you before this whole ordeal. Why were you in the streets so late?" My heart stopped dead in my chest. "I was... I was at...my friend's house...There was an emergency and I had to go home." The officer eyed me up suspiciously and then nodded. "That is all I need to know for know. Thank you for your cooperation. " he pressed the button and stopped recording. We both stood up and he escorted me out of the room.

It's been 10 months since the day I found that girl's body. A lot has happened since then. Alex and I moved in together. Three months ago, our daughter was born. I named her Charlie, in honor of that girl. Poor soul. I hope she's in a better place... And I hope that no other child or anyone for that matter should suffer like this. A couple of months back, they found the murderer. Noel Relish. A 79 year old man. A fisherman. Escaped by river. It turned out that he was a serial killer. His brother was killed in WWII by an Asian soldier. Now he has killed almost a dozen people. They all looked Asian. 3 of them were kids. This is horrible. I don't understand how someone could do such a thing... A small cry was heard from the nursery and I got up and brought little Charlie to the living room where me and Alex were watching a movie. I sat on the couch and rocked her until she fell asleep. She had her father's blue eyes and my brown hair. She was an angel and she was our whole world. We are a family. I smiled and looked at the engagement ring on my finger. I kissed Alex as he hugged us. And we continued to watch that movie. Just us three. Together. Away from the horrors of the world.