A Choice to Walk Away
d was a hopel
ed her, and she ca
showed him our chat logs and accu
and, to satisfy his desires, dr
boyfriend dismembered me, and
was back to the day
tedly, "Pearl, what
's great. Per
best friend Sybil
as pregnant and scared,
mpus apartment, unaware she'd slip so
Sybil, my so-called best friend, sobbing into her hands. "If Jerome goes elsewh
de me want t
er best friend,
wisted
elt weak, my m
bedroom, but I mustered all m
n, scanning the room before locking hi
est friend," I sai
e promised if you go along,
reaking. "Pearl, please forgive me. I love Jerome so much. I c
ab me, I stumbled bac
nly stopp
d snapped her out of
ou asked, so please d
Don't worry, I'm not goin
touched, ev
ld crack open her head to see i
close
I'd used to peel an
ll behind me shar
e lun
, swinging it wildl
nraged, pinned me against the wall
. My face turned red from lack o
couldn't breathe and looked d
r eyes, but when our gazes me
arable, my consciousness
e out. "Sybil, when she wakes, she'
bil asked, voice tr
aid, miming a throat-slitt
rl's my
ugged her. If she report
il's resolve. She buried her
ence as agreement a
stabbed it into my heart, pulling it out to pl
ered, doing noth
, floating above, watching my
er boyfriend, my murderer
mforted the friend I
ckly calm
s knew how t
tless fights and breakups always ended with Jerome's
dismember and dispose of me, with my
alert startling Sybil. She steadi
the message-a job interview
ever get
messages to my parents and friends,
both but passed through
rony
. "Detected overwhelming resentment, preventing reincarna
nswered withou
light flashed, an