This post is a tad longer than all the others. Keep reading!
Sooner or later, Abigail would have to tell Gloria the truth. She didn’t want to tell Gloria what really happened, but it didn’t matter what she wanted anymore, it was now time to face the facts: She would never solve the case. She poured out her soul and found nothing. Abigail gave up, the time had come to tell Gloria.
Oh, how it would tear the heart of Gloria, she would hit rock bottom all over again and maybe this time, it will be too much to bear. Will she ever find the peace she so deeply desires? Her private sessions with Dr. Weber had been proving to be quite successful, despite the fact, he only met Gloria two weeks ago. They already had had six sessions, their meetings were both extensive and intense. Dr. Weber was truly the best at his craft. Would telling Gloria the truth jeopardize Dr. Weber’s progress? Would it destroy her already broken heart? Either way, it must be done.
“Tell me, do you think of James often?” asked Dr. Weber writing notes in his book. (During their seventh private session. It was mid-afternoon)
“Not a day goes by that I...don’t,” answered Gloria in an almost steady voice, “Can we... talk about something else?”
“Miss Bennett, please try and understand, you can’t keep avoiding this subject of conversation. You can’t proceed to shelter yourself with past events, it’s almost as if you don’t want to move forward,” said Dr. Weber furiously writing in his notebook.
“If I move do forward, it would be without Emily, I can’t leave her behind,” answered Gloria in an extremely low voice.
“I’m sorry, could you repeat that?” Lifting his head away from his book. Dr. Weber, apparently was too focus on taking notes rather than listening.
“All I have are memories, moments. Do you really expect me to forget about all the good, all the joy, the peace?” asked Gloria with great concern.
“Far from it, I expect you to realize there is just as much good, joy and peace, in the future as there is in the past. You can either be afraid of what’s to come and hide or you can be hopeful and act upon it.”
Gloria could not understand. Her future was anything but hopeful. She was certain of this, her first love was stripped away from her. Then, her only source sustaining her from devastation was killed. Gloria was about to say something, when Dr. Weber interrupted her, “Well, it’s been over two hours, I think we covered enough for today, don’t forget what I said about the future, it’s not a scary place,” with that Dr. Weber put his few supplies (the pen and the notebook) in his briefcase and headed for the door. However, unexpectedly, the front door opened, it was Abigail, with her head lowered she appeared very somber. She was unaware that Dr. Weber was standing just a foot away from her. He suspected, something was very wrong.
“Hello, Abigail, I hope I...find you well...”
“Hello,” answered Abigail making brief eye contact with Gloria, but only to turn her head away, “Hello, Dr. Weber, I need to talk to you...outside.”
“Is something the matter?” asked Dr. Weber
“Outside please,” Abigail went out door, to the drive way.
“Abigail?” said Gloria wondering what could be happening, she didn’t get a response. Dr. Weber went outside to join Abigail.
“Yes?”
“Close the door,” said Abigail hurriedly.
The moment Gloria heard the door shut, she knew something wasn’t right, nothing had been right for a long time. What could they be talking about? Gloria stood up, and silently skimmed to the front door. She ever so gently, placed her ear against the door. She could only understand bits and pieces. Better than nothing.
“I-I don’t know what to do anymore,” that was Abigail’s voice, figured Gloria.
“Tell her the truth,” that was clearly Dr. Weber, she could tell by his rough voice. Gloria heard Abigail say something, but she was unable to make it out. Abigail must have been standing further away from the door. All Gloria was able to make sense was: If I tell....the case....it would....her heart...she’ll die.
“You can’t wear a mask forever, Abigail. By Lying and keeping secrets, you are digging yourself a grave. Sometimes the truth hurts, sometimes it’s unbearable, but knowing the truth, brings freedom, with that comes hope, and with hope, peace.”
Abigail proceeded to interject more excuses, but Gloria had heard enough, she didn’t want to eavesdrop anymore. She knew now what was going on, there was no question about it. Emily’s murder mystery was left as an open case, in other words unsolved. For decades Gloria’s life has been one tragedy after another, filled with misery. Her heart has been tormented for far too long. It was in that moment, she realized, she had no joy, nothing to look forward to in life, no hope, and the little peace she had left, was slipping away. What was left? Gloria was fed up with being depressed all the time, with people telling her, “it’s time to move on with life”, “you got to move past the pain”, and blah, blah blah! Enough was enough!
“How could Abigail quit on the case, on Emily! How could she? How dare she!” Gloria was flaming with anger, “She gave up, but I will not, I will be reunited with Emily!” she said furiously, but somehow was able to keep her voice low enough, so that Dr. Weber and Abigail couldn’t hear her. Gloria was practically fuming, her hands were clenched into fists, slowly vibrating. Being so overwhelmed with resentment toward Abigail, toward the police, and anyone else who quit the case, she impulsively swung the front doors wide open. She saw Abigail standing far off in the driveway waving goodbye at Dr. Weber, who had already drove away. Gloria didn’t waste anytime, she marched down the steps of the entrance and proceeded down to where Abigail stood, all in her night gown!
Abigail turned around and gasped, “Gloria?” she was caught off guard, she could not believe her eyes. What on earth was Gloria doing? “Are you okay?”
“How could you? How dare you!” yelled Gloria almost at the top of her lungs.
“Calm down, Gloria. What are you talking about?” asked Abigail hoping that Gloria was mad about something else and not about Emily’s case.
“Oh, stop pretending, I’m talking about Emily, I’m talking about her death!” shouted Gloria using many fierceful gestures, “Whatever happened to justice? To catching the stupid bastard, the rapist?!”
“I had no choice! All the evidence we’ve gathered turned out to be completely useless, we kept on running into dead ends, it was becoming a wild goose chase!” protested Abigail, trying her best to explain her actions.
“You had a choice, and you chose to give up!” said Gloria pointing right in Abigail’s face. A few nosy neighbors began to peer out their windows, but that didn’t stop either one of them from arguing.
“I did my best! I missed classes, I brought the case files home, I studied them for hours! I didn’t sleep for days! I-” Abigail was interrupted.
“What about me? Don’t you think I’ve suffered too? But I keep going, You could have kept going! I was counting on you, Emily was counting on you!” Gloria’s hands kept on unclenching and re-clenching, her knuckles were turning white.
“Gloria please, listen to yourself, I had to stop. There was nothing more I could do or that anyone could do. What’s done is done!”
“Is everything alright?” asked a random, but concerned neighbor, walking his Australian shepherd dog, “Can I help?” asked the worried neighbor.
“Shut up!” yelled Abigail releasing some of her concealed anger, “Look, Gloria I get it, Emily was your favorite, some parents have favorites! But that gives you no right to ignore me completely! Was I non-existent or something?” Abigail’s voice kept on getting louder and louder, “DId you ever love me?!”
“Abigail...” said Gloria suddenly feeling very weak.
“Ever since I was nine, I’ve been trying get your approval, get you to notice me, to love me! But everything I did just was no good! Why? What was so special about Emily?!”
“Please...Abigail...” whispered Gloria losing her balance. Gloria’s vision was becoming hazy, all objects around her began to blur. She felt light headed, and terribly dizzy, “Abigail....I..I” she tried mustering out a sentence.
“Ma’am, I think that woman is going to faint,” said the same concerned neighbor.
“You’re still here?” scolded Abigail glaring angrily at the man, “Mind your own business!” she was unaware of Gloria’s stumbling stance. Then, all at once, Gloria’s vision was pitch black, she fell onto the cement floor and her head hit the ground hard.
“Oh my God!” shrieked Abigail, she rushed over to Gloria, trying desperately to wake her, “Gloria! Are you okay? Gloria!” she said gently tapping Gloria’s cheekbone, but she was getting no response whatsoever. Abigail proceeded to tap a little harder, but it was futile, “Quick, call 911, do it now!” screamed Abigail at the man. He quickly searched his pockets, the two in the front, nothing, two in the back, empty, where was that blasted cell phone? At last, he found it, after digging through the inside pockets of his coat, “Yes, hello! A woman just fainted, she needs medical assistance!”
The ambulance came within moments, and in less than eight minutes, they assessed the situation, and gently placed Gloria on a gurdy. Abigail, wanting desperately to accompany Gloria, climbed onto the ambulance. Abigail sat right beside her, hoping, praying that everything would be okay. She lost her father, her sister, and now maybe her mother. Everything was spiraling out of control. During the swift drive to the emergency room, Gloria’s mind drifted into, not a dream, more like a horrible nightmare. Gloria, still dressed in her nightgown, was standing all alone, in a destitute field. Surrounding her, was an extremely dense fog. She stood in silence, wondering where could she be. Suddenly, she heard hurried, staggering footsteps, as if maybe a wounded person was rushing towards her. Her heart was pounding so fast, she had no idea who or what was coming. Gloria tried squinting her eyes, in hopes for better vision, but it did no good. The sound of the footsteps were closing in, she was rapidly becoming fearful. In a flash, her shoulder was yanked, she turned around and was shocked to see the face of Emily.
Sooner or later, Abigail would have to tell Gloria the truth. She didn’t want to tell Gloria what really happened, but it didn’t matter what she wanted anymore, it was now time to face the facts: She would never solve the case. She poured out her soul and found nothing. Abigail gave up, the time had come to tell Gloria.
Oh, how it would tear the heart of Gloria, she would hit rock bottom all over again and maybe this time, it will be too much to bear. Will she ever find the peace she so deeply desires? Her private sessions with Dr. Weber had been proving to be quite successful, despite the fact, he only met Gloria two weeks ago. They already had had six sessions, their meetings were both extensive and intense. Dr. Weber was truly the best at his craft. Would telling Gloria the truth jeopardize Dr. Weber’s progress? Would it destroy her already broken heart? Either way, it must be done.
“Tell me, do you think of James often?” asked Dr. Weber writing notes in his book. (During their seventh private session. It was mid-afternoon)
“Not a day goes by that I...don’t,” answered Gloria in an almost steady voice, “Can we... talk about something else?”
“Miss Bennett, please try and understand, you can’t keep avoiding this subject of conversation. You can’t proceed to shelter yourself with past events, it’s almost as if you don’t want to move forward,” said Dr. Weber furiously writing in his notebook.
“If I move do forward, it would be without Emily, I can’t leave her behind,” answered Gloria in an extremely low voice.
“I’m sorry, could you repeat that?” Lifting his head away from his book. Dr. Weber, apparently was too focus on taking notes rather than listening.
“All I have are memories, moments. Do you really expect me to forget about all the good, all the joy, the peace?” asked Gloria with great concern.
“Far from it, I expect you to realize there is just as much good, joy and peace, in the future as there is in the past. You can either be afraid of what’s to come and hide or you can be hopeful and act upon it.”
Gloria could not understand. Her future was anything but hopeful. She was certain of this, her first love was stipped away frome her. Then, her only source sustaining her from devastation was killed. Gloria was about to say something, when Dr. Weber interrupted her, “Well, it’s been over two hours, I think we covered enough for today, don’t forget what I said about the future, it’s not a scary place,” with that Dr. Weber put his few supplies (the pen and the notebook) in his briefcase and headed for the door. However, unexpectedly, the front door opened, it was Abigail, with her head lowered she appeared very somber. She was unaware that Dr. Weber was standing just a foot away from her. He suspected, something was very wrong.
“Hello, Abigail, I hope I...find you well...”
“Hello,” answered Abigail making brief eye contact with Gloria, but only to turn her head away, “Hello, Dr. Weber, I need to talk to you...outside.”
“Is something the matter?” asked Dr. Weber
“Outside please,” Abigail went out door, to the drive way.
“Abigail?” said Gloria wondering what could be happening, she didn’t get a response. Dr. Weber went outside to join Abigail.
“Yes?”
“Close the door,” said Abigail hurriedly.
The moment Gloria heard the door shut, she knew something wasn’t right, nothing had been right for a long time. What could they be talking about? Gloria stood up, and silently skimmed to the front door. She ever so gently, placed her ear against the door. She could only understand bits and pieces. Better than nothing.
“I-I don’t know what to do anymore,” that was Abigail’s voice, figured Gloria.
“Tell her the truth,” that was clearly Dr. Weber, she could tell by his rough voice. Gloria heard Abigail say something, but she was unable to make it out. Abigail must have been standing further away from the door. All Gloria was able to make sense was: If I tell....the case....it would....her heart...she’ll die.
“You can’t wear a mask forever, Abigail. By Lying and keeping secrets, you are digging yourself a grave. Sometimes the truth hurts, sometimes it’s unbearable, but knowing the truth, brings freedom, with that comes hope, and with hope, peace.”
Abigail proceeded to interject more excuses, but Gloria had heard enough, she didn’t want to eavesdrop anymore. She knew now what was going on, there was no question about it. Emily’s murder mystery was left as an open case, in other words unsolved. For decades Gloria’s life has been one tragedy after another, filled with misery. Her heart has been tormented for far too long. It was in that moment, she realized, she had no joy, nothing to look forward to in life, no hope, and the little peace she had left, was slipping away. What was left? Gloria was fed up with being depressed all the time, with people telling her, “it’s time to move on with life”, “you got to move past the pain”, and blah, blah blah! Enough was enough!
“How could Abigail quit on the case, on Emily! How could she? How dare she!” Gloria was flaming with anger, “She gave up, but I will not, I will be reunited with Emily!” she said furiously, but somehow was able to keep her voice low enough, so that Dr. Weber and Abigail couldn’t hear her. Gloria was practically fuming, her hands were clenched into fists, slowly vibrating. Being so overwhelmed with resentment toward Abigail, toward the police, and anyone else who quit the case, she impulsively swung the front doors wide open. She saw Abigail standing far off in the driveway waving goodbye at Dr. Weber, who had already drove away. Gloria didn’t waste anytime, she marched down the steps of the entrance and proceeded down to where Abigail stood, all in her night gown!
Abigail turned around and gasped, “Gloria?” she was caught off guard, she could not believe her eyes. What on earth was Gloria doing? “Are you okay?”
“How could you? How dare you!” yelled Gloria almost at the top of her lungs.
“Calm down, Gloria. What are you talking about?” asked Abigail hoping that Gloria was mad about something else and not about Emily’s case.
“Oh, stop pretending, I’m talking about Emily, I’m talking about her death!” shouted Gloria using many fierceful gestures, “Whatever happened to justice? To catching the stupid bastard, the rapist?!”
“I had no choice! All the evidence we’ve gathered turned out to be completely useless, we kept on running into dead ends, it was becoming a wild goose chase!” protested Abigail, trying her best to explain her actions.
“You had a choice, and you chose to give up!” said Gloria pointing right in Abigail’s face. A few nosy neighbors began to peer out their windows, but that didn’t stop either one of them from arguing.
“I did my best! I missed classes, I brought the case files home, I studied them for hours! I didn’t sleep for days! I-” Abigail was interrupted.
“What about me? Don’t you think I’ve suffered too? But I keep going, You could have kept going! I was counting on you, Emily was counting on you!” Gloria’s hands kept on unclenching and re-clenching, her knuckles were turning white.
“Gloria please, listen to yourself, I had to stop. There was nothing more I could do or that anyone could do. What’s done is done!”
“Is everything alright?” asked a random, but concerned neighbor, walking his Australian shepherd dog, “Can I help?” asked the worried neighbor.
“Shut up!” yelled Abigail releasing some of her concealed anger, “Look, Gloria I get it, Emily was your favorite, some parents have favorites! But that gives you no right to ignore me completely! Was I non-existent or something?” Abigail’s voice kept on getting louder and louder, “DId you ever love me?!”
“Abigail...” said Gloria suddenly feeling very weak.
“Ever since I was nine, I’ve been trying get your approval, get you to notice me, to love me! But everything I did just was no good! Why? What was so special about Emily?!”
“Please...Abigail...” whispered Gloria losing her balance. Gloria’s vision was becoming hazy, all objects around her began to blur. She felt light headed, and terribly dizzy, “Abigail....I..I” she tried mustering out a sentence.
“Ma’am, I think that woman is going to faint,” said the same concerned neighbor.
“You’re still here?” scolded Abigail glaring angrily at the man, “Mind your own business!” she was unaware of Gloria’s stumbling stance. Then, all at once, Gloria’s vision was pitch black, she fell onto the cement floor and her head hit the ground hard.
“Oh my God!” shrieked Abigail, she rushed over to Gloria, trying desperately to wake her, “Gloria! Are you okay? Gloria!” she said gently tapping Gloria’s cheekbone, but she was getting no response whatsoever. Abigail proceeded to tap a little harder, but it was futile, “Quick, call 911, do it now!” screamed Abigail at the man. He quickly searched his pockets, the two in the front, nothing, two in the back, empty, where was that blasted cell phone? At last, he found it, after digging through the inside pockets of his coat, “Yes, hello! A woman just fainted, she needs medical assistance!”
The ambulance came within moments, and in less than eight minutes, they assessed the situation, and gently placed Gloria on a gurdy. Abigail, wanting desperately to accompany Gloria, climbed onto the ambulance. Abigail sat right beside her, hoping, praying that everything would be okay. She lost her father, her sister, and now maybe her mother. Everything was spiraling out of control. During the swift drive to the emergency room, Gloria’s mind drifted into, not a dream, more like a horrible nightmare. Gloria, still dressed in her nightgown, was standing all alone, in a destitute field. Surrounding her, was an extremely dense fog. She stood in silence, wondering where could she be. Suddenly, she heard hurried, staggering footsteps, as if maybe a wounded person was rushing towards her. Her heart was pounding so fast, she had no idea who or what was coming. Gloria tried squinting her eyes, in hopes for better vision, but it did no good. The sound of the footsteps were closing in, she was rapidly becoming fearful. In a flash, her shoulder was yanked, she turned around and was shocked to see the face of Emily.
Emily was covered with blood and purple bruises, on her neck, her wrists, her legs, and so forth. Her eyes were imprinted with great distress, tramped in complete panic. Her feet were bare, covered in a mixture of blood and mud. The clothes she wore were ripped apart, as if she had been in a vicious brawl. Gloria was horrified, but she dared not turn away from her daughter, never.
Emily was covered with blood and purple bruises, on her neck, her wrists, her legs, and so forth. Her eyes were imprinted with great distress, tramped in complete panic. Her feet were bare, covered in a mixture of blood and mud. The clothes she wore were ripped apart, as if she had been in a vicious brawl. Gloria was horrified, but she dared not turn away from her daughter, never.
