Letting Go 2

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The first thing Anna noticed when she opened her eyes was the blinding white light that seemed to sting her senses.

Beep!

Beep!!

What was that sound?

She was lying facing the ceiling, and she could tell that she was stuck in a four-walled white room.

This room was not familiar. It was bright and blinding, the type of color she’d never put in her home.

But where was this strange place, and what was she doing here?

Was this a dream?

She closed her eyes and tried again, gearing her mind to bring her back to reality.

This time, her nose as if just waking up, flared active. She could smell something. It was strong, repugnant, and made her stomach retch in disgust. She recognized the smell. It was the unmistakable odor of disinfectants and antiseptics.

The type you’d only perceive in a hospital. Like the way the hospital had stung with grief and antiseptic on the day Henry had died and his body had been brought in for identification.

Henry?

And within a flash of seconds, memories upon memories of great loss seared through her mind.

Henry.

Mom.

Andrew.

Her threatened position at Adelle inc.

Job loss.

She whimpered as she remembered the letters of terror on the wall. Her mother’s dead body sprawled on the kitchen floor, the kitchen on fire, and all the other dreadful things that had happened before that day.

Was she cursed? Under a spell? Doomed to bring death to everything she touched? Why did life have to be so unfair?

She tried to move and sit upright.

“Miss Anna, how are you feeling? Do you feel pain anywhere?” A quiet voice asked kindly.

“Why am I here?”

Anna replied ignoring her question.

“Where’s mother?”

Anna tried to get up. Her body was unresponsive as if her mind was in a foreign body. A body that ignored the commands and reflexes sent from her brain.

“What is going on? I need to be with my mother.” She asked, struggling.

“I know”. The kind voice quickly came into view. It was a nurse. She was dressed in green overalls and had eyes as kind as her voice.

“You’re on some tranquilizers. When 911 had gotten to the place of the incident, we found you sprawled on the floor. You were in shock and kept muttering things that were incomprehensible. We had to quickly administer sedatives. You were clearly in shock. I’m thankful we got there on time. We could have lost you too.”

“Where’s Mom?”

“They took care of the body already, you don’t have to worry anymore.”

“The fire?”

“The house?”

“The crime scene is under strict restrictions as the investigation is still going on.”

“Crime scene?” Anna said out loud.

The place where she had first learned to walk, talk, and smile. How could a home that was full of life, laughter, love, and warmth suddenly be addressed as something as cold and unmoving: A crime scene. Her father will turn in his grave. That’s if he wasn’t flipping already with the way everything he left behind was turning out. Her mother’s home was now tagged like a flippant new toy for bored policemen to flex their disinterest. Anna thought to herself.

To them, It was just a case like several others across town. To her, this was everything. Her life. Her dreams. Her joy. Her aspirations. Everything snatched away by that asshole.

“Have they found him yet?” she asked the nurse. Have they nabbed that criminal?” Anna yelled.

“He’s disappeared, in fact, gone into hiding. Nobody’s seen or heard from him.

There’s nothing solid that connects this case to him either.”

The nurse replied as she applied pressure to a needle.

“No fingerprints. No DNA traces. Everything’s clean except for the writing on the wall. You need to rest. I’m about to administer the last dose.”

“Don’t you dare put that thing on me.

That murderer, Andrew, is walking about free, maybe even under our noses, and you want to put me to sleep? Hell no.”

“You need to calm down Miss Anna.”

“Don’t you d__a_re…..”

Anna felt her strength fade away as she struggled to speak the last word. Her brain was fast shutting down, and her eyes were suddenly too heavy to remain open.

Silence.

Drip.

Darkness.

The second time Anna came to, her mind was more active than the first. And her heart was racing super fast. As she began to take in the unfamiliar yet familiar view of the white-walled room, her eyes seared with strange and painful images.

She’d dreamt of someone.

Her mother.

And it was a dreadful dream.

Mother had called out Anna’s name from a dark cell. Her voice had been muffled and filled with dread as if she was sending a warning.

Even though Anna had tried to reach her, it appeared that every effort and step towards mother only drew them far apart.

Anna burst into tears recurring all of the beautiful times before death happened.

Why did everything have to turn out so badly? Just when she was learning to let go from her searing past with Henry, now she had to grapple with another tragic loss. One so sudden, so disheartening, a death that could not be explained.

As Anna struggled to get up from the hospital bed, the nurse that had first sedated her appeared again.

She still had that smile on her face that seemed to reassure everyone else except Anna that all was fine in the world.

Maybe in her world, she was living the fairytale.

But to Anna nothing was fine. nothing was normal. Her entire life was suddenly sauntering in topsy turvy chaos.

“I need to get out of here, look I’m fine. Normal. Absolutely okay now.”Anna tried to reassure the nurse before she attempted to sedate her again.

“I’m feeling better, I don’t need another dose. Please, I promise.” Anna begged.

The nurse’s eyes narrowed in pity as she took Anna’s frame into form. She was a shadow of herself. Life had indeed dealt her a terrible blow.

“I’m gonna let you go, Anna. I can’t keep you against your will. The drugs I’d administered should help you with your anxiety for a while.”

“May God see you through. I’m sorry for your loss.” She added.

Anna nodded. She did not know what to say. Was there a proper way to receive condolences?

“Of course”. Anna replied.

As Anna walked out of the clinical facility, she noticed a police van parked in the driveway, an officer walked judiciously towards her.

He was tall, heavy, and had really broad shoulders. He stopped right before her, reaching into his pocket for something. It was his identification card.

Good afternoon Anna Spence.

I am inspector Dave Williams, and I’ve been assigned to investigate your mother’s murder, and the incidents leading up to the event. Please feel free to discuss everything with me.

“Mr. Dave Williams, it’s about time a police officer showed up in this whole drama.” Anna retorted not in the mood for exchanging pleasantries.

“Please call me Dave, I insist.

And yes, I assume your fears are fully understood.”

“After recovering the body from the crime scene, we’ve had hands-on-deck scouting for any loose piece of evidence or explanation that could be vital to this case.”

“You don’t need Evidence. Everything is crispy clear before my eyes. I’m certain it’s Andrew.” Anna retorted.

“He’d threatened me, promised to take it out on me the moment I rejected his proposal. It cannot be purely coincidental that a few hours after he threatened to do something terrifying to me, I found my mother murdered in her own home, sprawled on the wall with her blood. It cannot be a coincidence. It cannot be.”

Do you remember what was written in her blood? I mean the writing on the wall? Inspector Dave asked?

How could I ever forget

You Brought This on Yourself

The letters were ingrained in Anna’s memory.

Marked too boldly to be erased. Those words will torment me forever.

“Do you have an unresolved matter with anyone else? Anyone that might have been angered by something you didn’t or did do?

“Nope. I’ve always lived a small life Mr inspector. Just one routine. Home. henry. work. home.”

“Mr. Dave rubbed his chin furiously. Then maybe your mom had an enemy. Somebody that could have done this?”

“Never! Mom was too kind a soul to be entangled with a murderer. That message was written for me. I can feel it.” Anna whimpered in tears. “Whoever did this is out there, roaming the streets with reckless abandon. Andrew is free, and I’m not sure I can sleep a wink when I know there’s a murderer out there waiting to go on another killing spree. Would I be next?”

“I don’t feel safe anywhere,” Anna mumbled to herself.

“We couldn’t find any traces, no DNA, no fingerprint. The murder was done by an expert. And if it’s indeed Andrew, then he’s making it almost impossible to nab him.

I’ll Be Back

Although your allegations will not hold ground without substantial evidence in court. The police force had issued an arrest warrant to bring him in for questioning.”

“What do you mean?” Anna asked

“What I’m trying to say Anna, is that Andrew has disappeared without a trace. There’s no evidence that he’d been in the city. As far as your testimony is involved, it’s almost as if the Andrew you’ve referred to all this while might just be a ghost.”

“What? Anna sank to the ground in dejection. Do you think I’m crazy?”

“Not in the least, Anna. We’re headed towards the crime scene. Would you like to come along to take a last look before it is closed for final investigations? ” inspector Dave asked.

“Of course. I think I’m up for it. Anna replied while wondering how this scenario could have been entirely different. Mr. Dave asked her on a date rather than escorting her gently to her mother’s home which was now labeled a ‘crime scene’. why did they all have to use that disturbing word?”

As Anna entered into the police van accompanied by several others headed to her mother’s house for what may be the last time, she felt her head spin as fast as the vehicle tyres.

Dave upon noticing her discomfort quickly asked.

“Do you need anything Anna?”

Need? She needed a lot of things.

She needed to change into new clothes. She needed to say goodbye to her mother.

She wanted to see the murderer pay and feel the sorrow that was cascading through her.

She wanted to feel peace again. She wanted that alien feeling of sanctity and quiet to return. She wanted to feel at home and stop berating herself for all the losses she’s had to grapple with.

Instead, she answered “no, I’m doing just fine” Swallowing all her needs into a cliché response that was the expected answer.

When they arrived at the ‘crime scene’ she was shocked. Everything looked different. Several men in uniforms paraded the apartment doing their work. Red and yellow tapes flew everywhere.

It looked like a true crime scene.

Father would double flip in his grave.

“We need to leave the apartment as soon as possible. Maybe grab a few clothes, your car keys, and any other essential you might need. You’d not be allowed here, after now. We can’t risk you contaminating the crime scene. You’ve got just 3mims.” Inspector Dave stated.

Anna nodded as she headed upstairs. She wanted to get out anyway. As she walked past the kitchen, she immediately shut her eyes. She couldn’t risk reliving the blood, fire, and dead body that had been there a few hours ago.

She opened the door to her room. It was all there. Everything she’d known since her childhood. Her room was the only thing that remained the way she wanted it to. Arranged, impeccable, untouched, and free of bedlam.

Anna walked towards her wardrobe and picked out three pairs of jeans and a couple of finely printed shirts. As she grabbed her credit card and keys with urgency her eyes fell on the carton she’d brought home the previous day. The one that held her termination letter from her position at Adelle inc. She wondered why she had been given another chance at marketing. She’d never know the workings of Mr. Tunde’s mind, She thought to herself.

Anna bent quickly to reach for a pair of new sneakers. She needed to dispose of these bloodied ones anyway. She threw a glance at the time. Three(3) minutes were up already, she could buy whatever she needed at the mall now that she had her credit card.

Dave would be here to escort her out. That was the last thing she needed.

As Anna reached for the door, something caught her eyes. It was a shiny diamond-studded earring.

“This is strange.”..Anna muttered to herself. “What’s this expensive ring doing here.?’

As she reached to pick it up, she heard a pounding on the door

“Hey, Anna…we need to leave.” It was Dave.

Anna??

Anna?

She studied the earring carefully, it was very familiar. It wasn’t hers. Neither her mom’s. Not just anybody could afford something this expensive, she thought to herself.

Only somebody rich and well-positioned could own this. But what was it doing in her room? Her room was off-bounds to everyone. How did it get here?

She turned it and the glint caught her eyes immediately.

Yes!

She remembered who she had seen this on?

But why was it here? Why did she find something of his in her room a few hours after her mother had been murdered and there were no suspects or evidence?

This is impossible. Anna pondered to herself. Why would he come here? Did he misplace this while he was at it? What was the motive? But why would he want to murder her mother?

They didn’t have anything in common or did they?

As Anna turned the ring in her fingers, she felt the cold diamond seep into her skin like a reaffirmation of the dread that was to come.

The door snapped open as Inspector Dave bounded into the room.

“Anna? Are you okay? I’ve been calling out to you.”