Love Made Its Case

Back to the day everything went wrong…

Evelyn was stuck at work all night, and it was super late when I got back from bringing her coffee and a midnight snack.

I had just stepped out of the shower when I heard something in the living room. I was really good at picking up sounds, so I knew right away those footsteps were not Evelyn's. I quickly locked the door and was about to call for help.

The next moment, however, I heard Evelyn's voice outside. It sounded like she was on a phone, crying out for someone to save her.

"Colton, don't you want to rescue your wife?" Marvin's voice was chilling, like a bad guy in a movie.

"If you don't come out, your wife's a goner. Call the cops, and I'll end her right now."

Evelyn's pleas kept echoing in my head. I knew it might be a trick, but I could not risk anything happening to her. I grabbed a clothes hanger for protection and unlocked the door. Marvin barged in so fast that I tumbled to the floor.

He yanked me up by my sleeve and punched me, and my nose started bleeding like crazy.

Marvin looked pleased with my messy state and started rummaging around for something, probably some important papers.

I was dizzy and my vision was blurry, but I had to stay awake. While he was busy searching, I grabbed a little statue from the table and whacked his arm with it.

Marvin turned red with rage and choked me hard. "You really want to die, huh? Well, I'll help you out! Before you go, here's a truth bomb for you. You think Evelyn's been working late? She's with me every night!

"You're so set on saving Evelyn, huh? Go ahead and tell her the truth yourself in the afterlife!"

He finished speaking, his grip tightening—until I went limp and died in his hands.

…

I was lost in my memories when Mom's sharp scream snapped me back to reality. Mom rushed past me, stumbled up the steps, and slapped Evelyn across the face. Evelyn, whom I had always looked up to, had never been treated like that before.

"You hit me? Well, I won't let that slide!"

When I snapped out of it, security guards were already pulling Mom away, ripping her sleeve.

I could not stand by and watch her get pushed around. I tried to step in. However, no matter how hard I tried, my hands just passed through everyone. I could not reach her.

I felt so hopeless watching Evelyn and Marvin. I was mad at myself for letting them meet, for not seeing who they really were all those years.

They dragged Mom away, and her feet got hurt in the process.

"My son's funeral is tomorrow. He's watching you from heaven, seeing everything you're doing! I'll get a lawyer, and you'll get what's coming to you!"

I balled my hands into fists, wanting to help Mom up, but I was stuck next to Evelyn. I watched Mom's thin figure get smaller and smaller, but I could not do anything about it.

The crowd at the door was sent away, and Marvin gently touched Evelyn's cheek. "I'm sorry, this is all my fault. If I hadn't come back, none of this would've happened."