Mr. Reynolds, reports suggest a possible
miscarriage of justice in the Kaylee Smith
You were the lawyer what’s your
く
response?”
“Mr. Reynolds, Ms. Katie is hospitalized, is
this related?”
Susan frowned, checking her phone.
She cursed.
“Look at the news, Daniel.” Susan’s voice
was angry. “Katie, that bitch! She faked a
mental breakdown! The whole internet
sympathizes with her, calling you a heartless
man obsessed with a dead woman!”
Daniel opened the news comments.
[Is Daniel possessed?! He’s abandoning his
pregnant wife for a murderer!]
[Katie is so pitiful, such a husband and sister,
I feel sorry for her.]
[What about the baby? Her husband loves a
dead woman, what a disgrace.]
Daniel closed his phone, his eyes resolute.
“To the reporters, see you in court. I will clear
Kaylee Smith’s name.”
<
“I’ll clear her name, for all these years of
injustice.”
The case blew up. My fans joined the online
debate.
[I knew Kaylee was innocent! She was so kind to us, and she won three best actress awards
that year. She wouldn’t harm her sister for a man!]
[She even introduced her sister to a film crew, but her sister acted like a diva, so the
director fired her, maybe her sister harbored
resentment?]
[More than that! I heard Katie liked Kaylee’s
boyfriend. Kaylee’s been dead for months,
Katie never visited…]
Finally, the trial day arrived.
I stood in the courtroom, remembering three
years ago.
I was panicked, helpless, overwhelmed with
<
anger and resentment. I couldn’t even cry.
I hoped Daniel would believe me, just a little. I saw him as a lifeline.
Now, I knew my real lifeline was myself.
The Grim Reaper said my obsession was for Daniel, but it wasn’t.
It was for revenge.
After death, I investigated for three years.
I finally found the video of my violation in
Katie’s safe.
When I heard Daniel wanted to destroy my
remains, my last hope vanished.
I put the tape in my urn.
If Daniel got the tape and didn’t help me, I’d
become a vengeful ghost, even if it meant
eternal damnation.
Now, a flicker of Daniel’s conscience
remained, he helped me.
He presented all the evidence: how I was
violated by Katie, how she killed me in prison.
vvnen τne tape snowed Katie sneering, Get a
clear shot, especially her face,” Katie in the
defendant’s seat screamed.
She tore at her hair like a madwoman.
“She liked Daniel, she wanted to seduce him,
she deserved it!”
She pointed wildly at the corner. I stood
there, watching her.
“Look! She’s there! She’s not dead! She
haunts my dreams, I’m terrified! Kaylee, leave
me alone!”
Daniel felt a familiar presence and looked in
her direction.
Nothing was there.
He scoffed, “I’m going crazy…
“”
The verdict came quickly. Considering Katie’s
pregnancy, she received a suspended
sentence, to be served after childbirth.
Leaving the court, Daniel ignored the
reporters and drove to South Mountain
vvnen the tape snowed Katie sneering, “Get a
clear shot, especially her face,” Katie in the
defendant’s seat screamed.
She tore at her hair like a madwoman.
“She liked Daniel, she wanted to seduce him,
she deserved it!”
She pointed wildly at the corner. I stood
there, watching her.
“Look! She’s there! She’s not dead! She
haunts my dreams, I’m terrified! Kaylee, leave
me alone!”
Daniel felt a familiar presence and looked in
her direction.
Nothing was there.
He scoffed, “I’m going crazy…
“”
The verdict came quickly. Considering Katie’s
pregnancy, she received a suspended
sentence, to be served after childbirth.
Leaving the court, Daniel ignored the
reporters and drove to South Mountain
Cemetery.
He stood before my tombstone.
“Did you see?” he whispered, “Kaylee, you’re
cleared.”
“I’m sorry… sorry… sorry…”
“”
He knelt before my grave, his remorse barely audible through his sobs.
The Grim Reaper reappeared.
“Your obsession is gone. It’s time to leave.” “Don’t you want to see him one last time?”
I was silent, then said, “I want to see Susan
one last time.”
My spirit drifted to Susan.
As I faded, she wept, hugging me tightly. “Susan, thank you for everything.”
“Kaylee, in the afterlife, I’ll find you. We’ll be best friends again.”
I nodded, smiling with relief.
“Yes, we will.”
End
く
Epilogue
In the hospital, a gaunt Daniel instructed his
assistant to bring a box.
It contained Kaylee Smith’s belongings.
A Criminal Law textbook lay open.
Kaylee often skipped work to attend Daniel’s
lectures, bringing this book.
Daniel’s voice was weak. “After I’m gone,
cremate these with me.‘
وو
His assistant nodded, tears in her eyes.
“Daniel, you’ve overturned twenty–eight
wrongful convictions. Ms. Smith will be at
peace.
“”
“No, she won’t.”
Daniel looked out the window at the falling
snow.
“If she forgave me, why didn’t she visit me in
my dreams all these years?”
“She hated me… she hated me so much…‘
The heart monitor’s line flattened. A piercing
The heart monitor’s line flattened. A piercing
alarm blared, medical staff rushed in, but it
was too late.
Outside, the snow stopped.
