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