So Long, Therese I

Unveiled

"Today I've been snapped back to reality, too much drugs, too much alcohol. That's what they say right?" Martin proceeds, the sound of Sam's quick writing was battling inside me too, like little whirls of lines.

"Just get to it." Surprisingly raising my voice, Martin glares at me. "Where is she, Chavez? Where is my daughter?"

For a moment I think I saw his eyes widen, "She's not with you?" The idea randomly unveils inside me.

"Well, no, not anymore." The tables have turned, I was the one stirring uncomfortably in my seat.

"Where is Therese?" I ask one more time, my head slightly shaking, my heart pounds inside my chest, my breath getting uneasy, Clutching the seat handle, I can't help but feel the tears swell in my eyes.

"She's dead Jolie, all gone."

"Liar! Where is she?" I stand up with all my strength, I attempt to run towards him but Sam wraps his arms around me.

"Calm down, please." He whispers into my ear.

"No, it's not true. It isn't." I cry as my strength falters.

Martin stood up from his seat, a wide smirk on his face. "You would've enjoyed the show you know, her delicious screams of your name. 'Mommy, Mom, Help me!" He imitates with a small childish voice.

"She's gone Jolie and think of it as your fault, I threw her inside a barn, I can't lie but that little slut tasted better than you." He licks his lips disgustingly, my eyes leaving piercing stares as I try to process everything.

"I set that barn on fire and not a single trace of her is left, that's what you get for torturing my wife. You didn't have to kill her."

"Selene? I never touched her!" I say incredulously, never have I laid a finger on that woman, that woman who hated me so much.

"Never? Now tell me why she's dead. Tell me how you enjoyed a glorious dinner while your men tortured her till she ran out of breath. Right? Sam? Jake?"  Looking over at Sam suddenly I realize the arrival of Jake.

"Is this true?" I breathed, Sam nodded slowly, and forcefully and pushed him away. "Don't touch me, not any one of you, men."

"Chavez, where is my daughter?" I don't want to believe any of his words but at the same time, it hurts to think my Therese... might be dead.

Reaching out for his pockets, Martin threw a price of paper and jewelry to the floor. Sam bends over to pick it up, handing the objects to me, I gasp.

The exact necklace I gave Therese. The piece of diamond remains persistent, unscathed, and still shines as light reflects upon it.

Unraveling the contents of the paper, my tears fell, a poem. With her messy handwriting, my heart ached as I realized the poem was about me.

My only dearest,

Before my body drifts to sleep,
I

'd stare at my ceiling and silently weep.

My mind lingers here and there,

For someone so delicate, I'd be devoted enough to care.

Eyes that unravel the windows to my soul,
S

mile that ever so be the one that makes me whole.

Charisma that's unintentionally fierce and deceiving.

Voice that's enchanting shall forever sought solace to my being.

With her presence, my mind constantly ceases,
T

he thought of her mighty heart beating, my very own with gratitude it pleases.

Heart that's golden and tremendous,

And soul that's effortlessly genuine and audacious.

Her soft touches, I melt unintentionally.

Should I kneel and apologize for fleeing? regretfully.

Surely she has something to confess,
Always she leaves me impressed, how hypothetically she's just another gorgeous mess.

The bereavement, her greatest despair,
A hodgepodge of maternal love and vengeance, to venture I tell you not dare.

Her unwavering devotion, forever to me be the greatest,

Knowingly living, she'll always be my only dearest.

"My baby..." I mumble, I don't care if anyone else was here to witness me falter.

My daughter is dead.

After a decade of fighting for my little bug, it has come to an end. No more hoping for her to come back, no more little hugs, she's dead.

Her sufferings have ended, in the most unfortunate way possible. I'll no longer be able to hear her voice or lay soft little kisses on her cheeks. No more of it.

Crying softly as I pressed the necklace and the paper to my chest, I could hear the click of handcuffs as Martin was escorted out of the room.

"Therese, bug. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you, I tried. I really did." I whisper through nothingness, I want to scream, scream until I lose my voice.

I could lose everything but just never my children, let them have it all, just not my babies.

Taking a seat as I laid my head on the table, my eyes wander to the clock.

9:18, always 9:18.

The unfortunate numbers for me.

"Angie? I can drive you home so you can rest. It's all over." Anne opened the door and took a few steps towards me.

"He raped her and let her body turn into dust for something I have no knowledge of." I felt her hand caress my back as I said it.

"I'm so sorry about Therese, the kid doesn't deserve any of it. Maybe, maybe in another life, you'll get to be with each other longer." Anne bends down to face me, her eyes also red, Therese wasn't just my loss too.

"I'm sure she's in a happy place now, let her poor soul rest."

"She promised to keep herself alive for me." Anne stood up her hands wide open, exactly what I really needed.

I fall into her arms, my loud sobs get muffled through her chest, tears unbearably fall, and my heart shatters into a million pieces.

May you rest in peace my little bug.

Mommy will always look forward to when I'll ever get to be with you again, not now but someday.