THE BRIDE SHE LEFT BEHIND

n my hand as I sa

Or you'll end

My fingers shook. The paper smelled of cigarettes an

elyn's diary. Someone

ouse was dark and quiet. But

mattress. Then I got dressed, pulled my hoodie on, and walked quietly out of my

idn't know

he yard. The trees looked like watching shadows in the

st. Every car that passed made me jump.

ll and old, with bricks the color of dried blood. I parked

he firs

like paper and old wood. I walked to the far corner

th, I sat down and

a moment

They had dates. Some from t

de

of

d the f

ir bed, crying. Her voice sha

ound a hidden camera in the bathroom. I do

at felt

ng herself. Leaving

. Bad lighting. She was o

it barked. He said if I ever l

lick. Ano

e was d

lse. A phone camera. Hidden. I saw the kitch

re very

d get rid of her," Mered

set. One little push and she'll break. People

od wen

anned it.

deo. Mered

'd be together.

Caleb's f

y. Once she's gone, w

dn't b

no doubt

kille

ad marr

oved behind me in th

d aroun

e was

were watching me from som

B. Just in case. Then I took the first

ter, but the sun felt far away. The world

adn't be

d been

... I w

A black car followed me for a while. My hands got sweaty o

ing deeply. I had to act normal. I

I couldn't forget Evelyn's voice. An

leb wasn't in the kitchen. I wa

in Evelyn's old chai

ook at me w

nt out

Had trouble

look at me. His eye

n't at th

fr

id he

d by the

But not wit

oking for in the

ust books. Som

ly. Walked over

the library a lot too. Said it

ed hard.

eane

thing. You wouldn't know any

ok my

d again.

past me and out

I grabbed the diary. The USBs. I had to

y backpack and

to the police. N

ed to

oom. I told him I was scared of

on the floor unt

eathe softly, hi

a promise

grow up thinking m

d get

d get

fore I fell aslee

rom an unkn

everything? You don't k

... was

Eve

with a man I d

hotel

il