WEN: 096A33
Exhibitor Name: Daniella Smith
Division: Creative Writing--
Class: 04 Short Stories (
“That doesn’t matter; she looked like she’s never been outside.”
Unexpectedly, Marie reached across the table and took my hands in hers. “Honey, I wish I could do something too. But Artie gets away with too much, and he may get away with this too. And who knows what he’ll do to the both of us if he finds out we called the police on him.”
This was especially disheartening because I knew it was true. I looked up at Marie, whose warm caramel eyes spoke bitter truths.
She squeezed my hands and dropped them, reaching for her teacup and taking a pensive sip. I did the same, but instead of drinking my tea, I stared into it. After a few silent minutes, Marie tentatively changed the subject, but my mind still whirred with the memory of the woman and Marie’s words. And about an hour later, when we finished the entire plate of scones and our tea, Marie led me to the front door and said her goodbyes. Once the door closed behind me, I looked across the street at Wyatt’s house. Judging by the dark windows, all of the lights were turned off. I tried to look through them and see if there was any movement, but my efforts were futile.
Looking through the windows, however, an idea flickered in my head. And as weak as it was, I had the compulsion to go through with it.
12 Aug 1994 - 0356 hours I sat cross-legged on my porch, looking at the equipment around me and feeling the dry cold nip my exposed neck. I fidgeted with my father’s tactical survival watch, watching it slide along my skinny wrist. The time read 0356. Four minutes was more than enough time to make sure I had everything I needed. I lived alone, so I didn’t have to worry about anyone coming up behind me and asking what I was doing out on the porch with a putty knife, a hammer, a bag of dog treats, blankets, a few bottles of water, a swiss army knife, and a pair of sneakers.
I may as well been running away - which was only half true.
Additionally, I had the benefit of living in a deserted area, where houses were either burned down, under construction, or empty.
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