Melissa Knows Best

23: The Truth Hurts

Melissa stared into Euphie's eyes for a long time. Her brain was processing everything too slow. It was almost as if everything was moving in slow motion.

Time was being paused.

The room was completely quiet. Both girls breathing calmly, despite the scene that just went down.

Finally, Melissa spoke.

"How did you.. The gun- how.."

She trailed off, unable to speak. Her voice was too shaky. She had a lump in her throat once more.

Euphie dropped the gun on the pool of blood. It landed right next to Henry.

"It wasn't his gun.. It was an extra one I had.."

Oh.

Melissa felt as if she was in a dream. Nothing seemed realistic to her anymore. She kept thinking about the last few minutes. It was all beginning to overwhelm her.

He Doesn't Have Jason... He Sent Me To Jail.. He Killed Candy.. He Killed Jason.. And Mom... He Lied To Me...

She felt tear drops sliding down her cheek and onto her neck wetting her shirt.

Suddenly, the rope around her wrists felt too tight. She was having a difficult time breathing.

She looked up at Euphie with desperate eyes.

"Please.. Untie me.. I can't handle this anymore, I just want to go home. I won't press any charges, I swear on my children."

Euphoria froze for a long time. She stared at Melissa as if she were a wild animal in need of help. Slowly, she leaned down and put herself at eye level with Melissa just like Henry had done.

"I'll let you go.." She said, as she stroked Melissa's cheek with her thumb.

"But, I need to tell you something first."

Melissa didn't move, her face was passive.

Euphie begun.

"I know you're overwhelmed by everything.. I would be too. But I just wanted to.. Apologize.. For the notes. I would never want to hurt you. I was never there physically.. I just had to do the work of delivering the notes. Henry forced me."

Melissa stared at Euphie, but it was like she was looking through her, not at her.

"The one time you saw me was outside of Tony's porch when it was raining hard. And I knew you spotted me. I wanted to go up to you and explain everything but I couldn't.."

"Why..?"

Melissa practically whispered the words.

She saw water forming in Euphie's eyes. She was beginning to choke up, but she replied.

"Henry would abuse me. Not physically, but he would take away certain necessities. Like.. If I wouldn't deliver a note,  I wouldn't be allowed to sleep on my bed. I'd have to sleep in the basement and skip dinner for the night.. I was just forced into helping him.."

Melissa felt her heart clutch.

Euphie grew in closer to her face.

"I never wanted to hurt you Melly.. That would never be my intention. But I had no choice. At the time that Henry adopted me, I thought he was a normal, good person. But as you found out tonight, he deceives well."

Melissa nodded her head.

She understood where Euphie was coming from. All throughout her life Melissa had been tricked by people's appearances.