Page 63 - KCN 2020
P. 63

T H E   L A S T

 DINNER  LAM EI VY  placing her in a black body bag. That
            made no sense! She wasn’t dead.

              Thunder roared through the city as heavy rain-     “Is she really, though? Is she sick or—”     “Let go of me!” I wrestled
 drops pelted everything in their wake, bringing even   out of the grasps of the police-
 more gloom to the night. I jammed my keys into the      “I said she’s fine.” I hung up and mas-  men holding me, trying to get
 door and entered the apartment. A smile came to   saged my temples as a headache slowly crept in.   to Caroline. I had to save her.
 my face as I saw my wife sitting at the dinner table.  It was annoying when people kept calling and
 messaging to check in on Caroline. It wasn’t as
    “Honey, I’m home,” I called out, excited to   if she was in danger, she was just feeling unwell.     “She’s not dead! I didn’t
 see her after a long, tiring day at work. Hearing   kill her! She’s just unwell. How
 no response from her, I frowned. Caroline had      I smiled as I seated myself opposite Caroline   many times do I have to explain
 been unfathomably tired for the past few days. I   once again. Taking her left hand in mine, I stared   this to everyone? She’s fine! She’s
 hoped that she’d return to being her usual self soon,   into her beautiful hazel eyes. “Caroline, you know   just feeling sick!” I screamed and
 otherwise I would have to take her to the clinic.  that I love you, right? Do you remember how we   I  ran  towards  her  in  desperation.
 promised each other to stay by each other’s
    I gave her a peck on the cheek then made my   side, no matter what? I hope you remember that.”     They couldn’t take her away,
 way to the kitchen to prepare dinner: leftover pasta   she was perfectly fine! She had to stay
 from a few nights ago. While reheating the pasta, I      I  heard  knocking just as I pressed   here with me, and only with me! I was
 animatedly told Caroline about my day from work,   a kiss to Caroline’s hand. Great, who was it now?   her husband, it was my duty to protect
 not leaving out even the tiniest detail. Caroline   Annoyance seeped into my veins as I opened the   her! And now, all these dumb police-
 remained silent as she listened to my chatter.   door, only to be greeted by a few policemen.  men were taking her away from me!

    As I placed the plates of pasta on the      Before I could fully grasp the situation, one      Two policemen pulled
 table, I noticed something red on the crook of   of the policemen had already handcuffed me while   me back just as I was     nearing Caroline.
 Caroline’s arm. I leaned in for a closer look,   another one pushed past me into the apartment.   No, no, no, I was so close. Tears clouded
 but  soon  recoiled  in  shock.  “What  were  you   my vision as I desperately continued
 doing, Caroline? There’s dried blood all over      “What do you think you’re doing!?” I yelled   to struggle against the policemen.
 your arm!” I wet a cloth and gently wiped away   angrily at them, struggling against the restraints.   I just needed to hold her again.
 the dried blood that stained her porcelain skin.  This had to be a mistake.
                   “Sir, stay calm or you’ll be
    After making sure that her arm was free      “Elijah Wang, you’re under arrest for the   charged with resisting arrest.”
 of blood, I sat opposite Caroline and ate dinner.   murder of your wife, Caroline Wang. You have the   Charged with anger, all I saw was red
 Just then, the shrill sound of the phone ring-  right to—”  as I tackled the policeman next to me.
 ing reverberated through the apartment.
    My ears were ringing. The room started to
    “Hi!” I was greeted by a chirpy voice when   spin as I began to choke. I couldn’t breathe.     At that point, I didn’t even
 I answered. “I’m Denise, Caroline’s co-worker.   know what my body was doing.
 I’m calling to check up on Caroline. Is she      Was he actually accusing me of murdering   All I wanted was Caroline. Shouts in
 doing alright? She’s been absent from work for   my wife?   the background. The crackling of
 three days and it’s unlikely of her to not call in.”  electricity.
    I glanced back to see policemen sur-
    “She’s fine,” I answered.  rounding  Caroline.  No,  no,  no,  no,  they  were      I blacked out.
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