“Don’t try to buy me off. I don’t want
anything from you. I’ll bury my mother
myself.”
The light died in her eyes.
She knew there was no forgiveness for what
she’d done. She didn’t follow.
She just watched as I walked away.
I couldn’t get a cab, so I walked to the
crematorium.
Until my mother was at peace, I couldn’t think
about anything else, not even revenge.
The staff at the crematorium were helpful this
time, no obstacles, just quiet assistance.
They placed her ashes in a small urn.
I buried her, burned offerings, said my
goodbyes.
Every day, Sarah’s texts arrived, full of
apologies.
I didn’t read them.
She somehow found my mother’s grave. She
brought yellow daisies and knelt there, from
dusk till dawn. Even when the rain came, she
didn’t move. She seemed genuinely
heartbroken.
Finally, I agreed to meet her.
く
I arrived at her house, and heard her arguing
with someone in the yard. It was Alex.
“Sarah, why blame me? Everything I did was
for you. The tests, the video, it was all to
make sure he was worthy of you.”
“If he really loved you, he wouldn’t have
cared about any of that. The old lady’s dead,
she was going to die anyway.”
“If he leaves you because of it, good
riddance. Marry me instead.”
Sarah’s voice was sharp.
“You don’t understand! Michael’s father died
when he was young. His mother was all he
had.”
<
“Now she’s gone too. He’s alone.’
وو
“Stop making excuses! How can you justify
what you did to him?”
Alex scoffed.
“Me? I didn’t push his mom overboard.”
Sarah was speechless. Then she saw me. Her
anger melted away.
She rushed over, her eyes wet.
وو
“Michael, you came.”
“”
“I haven’t been able to sleep.‘
“I’ve been trying to think of a way to make it
up to you.”
I looked at her, a humorless smile twisting my
lips.
“Make it up to me? I have an idea.”
“It depends on whether you’re willing to
accept it.‘
وو
Her face lit up with hope.
“Anything. Just forgive me.”
I smiled.
“I’m going to the police. I want you to pay for
what you did.”
Her face paled. She opened her mouth, but
no words came out.
<
Alex laughed.
“Michael, do you even have any evidence?
You can’t touch Sarah. Her parents are too
powerful. You think the police will arrest her?
Don’t be absurd.”
I looked at him.
“You’re going to jail too.‘
99
“You!” Alex’s face twisted in fury. He raised
his hand to slap me.
Sarah stepped in front of me.
The slap echoed, a bright red mark blooming
on her cheek.
Alex’s face crumpled. He reached for her, but
She pushed nim away.
She looked at me, tears in her eyes, a bitter
smile on her lips.
“If I do this, will you forgive me?”
I answered, “If you don’t, I never will.‘
She took a deep breath and nodded.
“Okay. I understand.”
“I’ll do it.”
Alex’s face contorted.
“Sarah, don’t listen to him!”
He tried to come towards me, but Sarah
く
dragged him back inside.
I left and went straight to the police.
The case moved quickly. Sarah and Alex were
brought in for questioning.
Sarah’s parents, people I’d never met in three
years of dating, showed up at my door,
begging.
“Sarah’s young, please, give her another
chance.”
“You were in love, you can’t send her to
prison.”
“We’ll compensate you, anything you want, just please…”
<
I shook my head, my voice hard.
“Unless you can bring my mother back.”
“No deal.”
I closed the door in their faces. They pounded
on it, but I didn’t open it.
At the trial, Sarah confessed.
Alex denied everything, but there was too
much evidence.
After she was sentenced, she sent a
message, asking to see me.
I refused.
A few days later, her lawyer came to see me.
Г
He spread out some documents.
“Miss Preston knows she wronged you. She’s
giving you everything she owns.”
“Five houses, one point five million dollars.
It’s all yours now.”
“She also asked…if you might visit her
sometime.”
“Or even just write a letter. She misses you
very much.‘
99
The lawyer’s voice was full of emotion, but I
felt nothing.
“No. Tell her I’m not interested.”
The lawyer nodded and left with the signed
