When Abigail heard the words “She’s dead”, at first she thought it was a lie, a vicious, vulgar lie! That there had been a horrible mistake. It couldn’t be true, but Abigail could see the mass of police officers gathered around the shed, she could see the yellow tape blocking the entrance. Why else would there be so many people? No, it couldn’t be true. Abigail kept on repeating the same words inside her mind: it’s a lie, a mistake, it’s a lie, a mistake! Over and over, but it wasn’t enough, she could feel a tugging sensation in her soul. How could tonight get any worse, but it did, for in the midst of her rushing thoughts, she suddenly heard the lady say, “She was raped.” She was utterly speechless. Her one and only sister, raped and the worst part was all those years that Abigail could have spent with Emily creating memories, she spent it in a corner being jealous. Instead of joining Emily and Gloria when they were laughing or playing, she was just watching in the background. Abigail for so many years had the chance to be Emily’s big sister, but never did. This must have been some sick, twisted dream, a nightmare, concluded Abigail.
“Abigail, I can’t possibly imagine what’s going through your mind, but we would like to ask you a few questions, if you’re up to it,” asked the officer lady giving Abby a comforting hand on the shoulder, which didn’t give her any comfort or reassurance whatsoever. Abigail reluctantly agreed. Within moments, she was bombarded with question after question, she tried her best to answer all of them, but her mind was still much in shock. It was as if her thoughts went numb. She couldn’t make sense of anything.
* * *
Gloria hadn’t heard a word from Abigail for quite some time, what could have happen? Was Abigail successful in finding Emily? Was Emily safe? And if so, why didn’t she call? Why aren't they calling now? Numerous questions flooding her mind and Gloria didn’t know the answer to any of them. The clock hit 2:15 a.m, it had been a little over an hour, since Abigail last contacted Gloria. However, Gloria’s mind wasn’t on Abigail, all she was thinking about was Emily. Even though the night sky was pitch black and not a single sound stirred loud enough to be heard, and even though Gloria was exhausted, she wouldn’t allow her body, herself a moment of rest, of peace. Gloria was dragging her weary feet in circles all throughout the house; her mind was filled with worries, concerns and tensions. Then suddenly, Gloria heard a loud knock at the front door. Her heart leaped for joy, she instantly thought it was Emily, she didn’t even give it a second thought, within seconds, she quickly opened the door.
However, when the door was opened wide, her smile vanished, her face changed from joyous to confused, her heart sank. It was just Abigail standing with a small group of police officers. She didn’t understand.
“What’s going on? Where’s Emily?”
When they told Gloria what had happened, she dared not believe any of the words emanating from their mouths. Emily probably just went over to one of her friends house for a sleepover or something along those lines.
“What are you talking about? She must be at a friends house. Just tell me which one,” replied Gloria with her usual softer than necessary voice.
“I’m sorry ma’am, but all that we have said is true,” answered the same officer with the booming voice. Again, they explained what had happened, Gloria heard every word that they said, but she didn’t comprehend. Her sanity was clouded with emotions, affecting her discernment heavily. Gloria stared into the eyes of every person in the room, their faces seemed honest and sincere, but it couldn’t be true...why would it?
“No..no. Emily is at a friend’s house. Please just tell me which one...why won’t you tell me?” asked Gloria with an abundant amount of concern pouring from her eyes. Abigail couldn’t contain herself much longer, she was filled anger, sadness, resentment, so many different emotions, all bottled inside. She was dying to burst out and rip off the mask, of which she made and held, for years upon years! Alas, Abigail couldn’t keep silent.
“Mom! Emily is dead, gone forever!” she exploded with a fountain of tears, she once kept locked away, “She’s not at a friend’s house, for heavens sakes mom! Emily is dead, she was raped! And there’s nothing you can do or they can do!” Abigail was finally releasing a load of tension and burdens off her shoulders. The cops had no idea how to respond or if they should respond at all, they were caught totally off guard. Abigail was about to open her mouth to relinquish more of her tucked away anguish, but she was unable. Abigail stopped cold, all at once and quietly wept, but she did not lower her head, her eyes were piercing right back Gloria. Gloria stood still, motionless, with no expression.
Then it happened, it clicked, Emily was dead. Gloria felt as if she was being crushed by a force she could not see nor fathom. She was utterly devastated. Just the thought of losing Emily, no not Emily, she was losing James all over again! Gloria couldn't bare the thought, not again. It was a lie, all of what Abigail said, of what the cops said- a lie! She refused to believe anything that was happening. She denied it all.
“You’re lying! All of you, you’re lying!” She loudly protested, “Emily can’t be dead, she just can’t,” sobbed Gloria, “No, no, no. Tell me it is not so!” Gloria fell on her knees covering her hands over her face. It was true. Emily had died. She began to sway back and forth saying in a hushed voice, “No, no, no, no, no” with no indication if she would ever stop.
An officer looked at Abigail, who was still holding her solemn face, and said, “She needs you, she needs you bad.” Abigail’s face slowly softened, she couldn’t leave her mother in loss, in distress. With some hesitation, Abigail approached Gloria, knelt down beside her and gently wrapped her arms around her. This would be the first time, in years, that she would give her mom a sincere hug. When Gloria felt the heartbeat of Abigail against her chest, it was beating just as fast hers, that’s when she realized, Abigail was just scared as she was, they were both stricken with heavy burdens of heartache. Gloria, extended her arms and embraced now her only child. At first, Abigail didn’t know how to react, could this really be happening? Was Gloria really clinging onto her, just as she once clinged onto Emily? As Gloria hugged Abigail tighter, she dared not loosen her grip. It became all so clear to Abigail, she had to stay strong for Gloria’s sake, she was now Gloria’s only source of comfort. Nevertheless, Abigail knew that Gloria would never feel even a small sense peace, until she find out who killed Emily.
With that concept embedded in her mind, Abigail helped Gloria to her feet and replied to the officers, “Please go and find out who did this, and bring that bastard to justice. My mother... and I will do anything we can to corporate.” Abigail was smeared with tear stains on her cheeks slowly rolling down, but she didn’t bother to wipe her face.
Since that dreadful morning, the investigation progressed rapidly. Abigail set aside all folly feelings, so she could help her mother live day to day, as much as possible. She was so ensnared with the idea of being strong “for Gloria’s sake”, she didn’t give herself a chance to mourn. As for Gloria, she fell hard and deep. Her heart sank to such a degree, no matter how many times she cried, the tears would not stop. Gloria, would walk idle around the house, for countless of hours, with no sign of hope. It had been three long, tormenting weeks, since the death of Emily and the cops were still vigorously interrogating, seeking answers to questions, working late hours all because Abigail wouldn’t let them stop. However, for one reason or another, they hit a wall. By the fourth week, the detectives were stuck, they had no leads, their previous suspect had a rock solid alibi with eyewitnesses, who could vouch. There was so much DNA smothered in the shed, but most of it belonged to Emily and the small scrap of DNA that wasn’t Emily’s, had no matches. They had requisitioned Kevin time and time again, they even questioned Eric, among many other teenagers who ran away during the party, all of their replies just made way for more confusion and dead ends.
One day, while the investigation was dwindling, while Gloria was alone dragging her weary bones throughout the empty house, she stumbled across the garden. The garden that once was her sanctuary, that once protected her from agony, was now just another reminder of everything she had lost or what she was losing. She drifted her way, outside, toward the bed of flowers and pillows of grass. As her eyes slowly traveled up the dirt path, they fell upon a section of dying orchids. Instantly, her mind vanished from the present, and reappeared on the day she saw Emily for the last time. They were walking together in the midst of the recently bloomed orchids.
“Oh, mom, they’re simply marvelous!” said Emily with unmistakable glee in her voice.
“Emily, dear, do you really think so?” inquired Gloria earnestly.
“Mother, what’s wrong?” asked Emily leaning close to Gloria, “You’re going to be amazing next week in the flower competition. You did sign up, right?”
“We always sign up together.”
“Don’t be silly. This year, you should take all credit. We signed up together last year and the year before that, in fact we’ve been doing it together, since I was six.” said Emily staring lovingly at the flowers, “It was never me, it always you. You were the champion for four straight years.” Gloria, God knows why, began to blush.
“No, it was us, we’re a team. This is our pride and joy.” replied Gloria kneeling down to feel the petals.
“This is more your pride and joy than it is mine.” said Emily, trying to explain herself, now kneeling beside Gloria, “I remember... it was dad, who started this tradition. He’d always sign the entire family up, but after he...things changed... you became distant, to everyone except me. Why?” asked Emily looking straight at Gloria. Gloria didn’t want to make eye contact, but she couldn’t bring herself to turn away from Emily, she loved her too much.
“Over the years, I’d notice now and then, how lonely Abigail would look. At first, I didn’t pay much attention...which I now regret...” What was Emily getting at?
“I don’t think I understand?” said Gloria with a dazed voice.
“I’ve been meaning to ask you, I mean... you spend a lot of time with me, but never with Abigail...I guess what I’m trying to say is,” said Emily trying to pick her words wisely, “Why did you change? What happened?” Gloria’s mind was boggled, why was Emily asking her these questions? She never did before. Why now?
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