• The cool color on the walls starts to shiver down my spine as I sit and wait in this lonely room for the officer to arrive. These past few days roaming through my head how could I have not noticed that something was wrong? How could I have not seen the truth behind it all, the acts of innocence, the pain that can never be fixed, and all my trust truly broken. I love them but how can you forgive someone for this, they went too far and caused too much damage. The throbbing of my arm overwhelming me and displacing my thoughts at times, as the clock is slowly ticking, torturing every second of my broken life. The door starts to creek open as a slender tall man in uniform approaches a determined look upon his face to find the truth behind all these shattered lies. He reaches out his hand to meet mine and introduces himself as officer Stevens a few simple words leaving his lips, “so Clara tell me everything you can remember and please start at the beginning of everything. How this all came about.”
    The tears starting to overpower my fragile eyes as the life I once knew was about to be displayed just through words. The one I loved now just being a part of my past, my heart being traumatized for eternity. “Well… Officer Stevens I will start from the very beginning to help you understand the truth behind these actions.” “Okay Clara.” “It all began Officer Stevens just two years ago, I was 20 and still living with them, but a part of me knew it was time for a change in my life. To head out on my own and discover the world for myself, to find the one man who could make a difference in my life. Yes my parents had different plans for me, but I needed to do this for my part. Now how I meant Bret was through Christopher his best friend, at first me and Christopher were talking. But we found that we had different views and I was looking for someone I could settle down with, Christopher was not but he knew Bret was. I had meant him over the internet.” “Now from my standpoint meeting someone over the internet can be pretty risky. Were you scared that they could be faking their identities and be lying to you?” “Yes I had wondered that, but something just felt right and told me that I could trust them, and as we know it was.” “Yes that is true.” “Unlike Christopher though Bret didn’t have access to the internet all the time, so Christopher gave me his number. I started off by texting him and introducing myself to him which thankfully he had unlimited texting. At first we were just friends because Bret was not sure about my age. He was 37 and 20 year olds can be known for being party animals and he just didn’t want that. I wasn’t much of a party animal but living with my parents made it hard because people usually assume that when someone lives with their parents they don’t want to take on responsibility.” “That can be the case at times, but I know there’s a different reason to why you were still living with them.” “Yes Officer Stevens there was I mean I will admit I was scared of taking on responsibility but I was paying my parents rent. But there were some things in my past that made it difficult for me to leave, I was not a confident person and I had a hard time confronting people about things. So it was hard for me to confront them about leaving. But as Time went by me and Bret got closer and closer realizing that we had developed feelings for each other. But it was hard to discuss this with my parents because they were very religious and felt that I should marry a man of religious background, one that shared their beliefs. I mean Bret had beliefs but they were not the same as my parents so it would not agree with them. In their eyes I should be supervised on dates and I wouldn’t move in with the man till after I was married. Oh and no sex before marriage, that was a huge sin in their eyes. I had run into a few incidents where I talked to some guys outside of their religion and once they found out they treated me like a child and took the phone I had purchased with my own money away.” “Why didn’t you stop them?” “Like I said before Officer Stevens I had not confidence, no self-esteem, and my mother has a bit of a temper so going against her can be quite petrifying. But Bret lived in Massachusetts and I lived in Ohio...” “Yea and long distance relationships can’t and usually don’t last forever unless the two can be together after a short while.” “Me and Bret were figuring that out how we could be together, there were a couple of times he came to Ohio and we went places without my parents figuring it out, but eventually it came a time that we needed to be together permanently cause we couldn’t stand being away from each other. So we had to figure out a plan to get me out of there without running into complications and conflict.” “That must have been hard.” “It was but we decided that I would leave for work that day like I always do, but instead of going to work I would meet Bret somewhere. A place the neighbors and anyone who went to my parent’s church could not see us.” “Now what about your Job?” “I gave them my two week notice.” “How did they handle that?” “It went well because I was a very hard worker and they liked me. Told me they would miss me, and then the next thing I know it’s finally that day. I am getting up, getting dressed for what seems like another day at work, but the night before I wrote my parents letters explaining why I didn’t come home from work, that I loved them but didn’t know how to confront them about this, about Bret .” “That must have been difficult.” “It was, but I needed to do that, and it was a huge weight lifted off of my shoulders.” “How did they react when they found the letters?” “Well according to my sister they were blowing things all out of proportion, me and Bret didn’t even stick in Ohio once we meant up. We agreed that it would be best we just leave, my sister thought that was smart because they were trying to involve the police.” “Wow, but I am sure they told them that there was nothing they could do because you were older than 18.” “Yea they couldn’t but they had to try, but leaving with Bret was worth it. I had never felt that good about myself, having someone who cares about my opinions and what I want in life, he was my everything…” “So what did Bret do for a living?” “Well he was a roofer and worked 6 days out of 7.” “That must have been tough.” “It was but Bret always came home with a smile on his face and was very decent and loving towards me even after a hard day at work. I loved him so much; we were planning on getting married in April…” “I am so sorry, I know this is hard for you, but let’s get to the reason why you came back to Ohio to visit.” “I loved Bret’s family his parents and his younger brother. But I was starting to miss mine, I wanted to see them and make things right with them, and let them see why I fell in love with Bret. The funny thing is me and my mom talked on the phone almost every week.” “How did those conversations go?” “Actually quite well, me and my mom talked about everything which is interesting because before we didn’t have an open relationship like that I was afraid to tell her things. But I never got a since of hatred or anger towards Bret I actually thought they were coming to accept this. I know my mom couldn’t wait to see me, but I did not know what they had in store though. That they were planning on putting an end to me and Bret’s relationship, if I had known that I would have never left.” “Yea they didn’t want you to figure that out or else their plan would have never worked. So now that you told me this information let’s get to the night this all happened. What I know is you arrived in Ohio and invited them out to dinner at Applebee’s but they will not share the rest of it with me.” “Yes Officer Stevens that is true once me and Bret reached Cleveland, Ohio we gave my parents a call telling them to meet us at Applebee’s. So they did, we paid for their dinner but the reason we took them out to dinner was to see how they would react in a public place.” “How did they react?” “They were enjoying themselves a little too much, and they were talking to Bret about Religious things and what I assumed was trying to get to know him but I guess not. I guess there were other reasons to why they were asking these questions.” “Did any of them seem suspicious?” “Well at first I thought they were just messing with him but yes one did.” “What question was that?” “If what he was doing was going against his beliefs, that being with me before we were married was a sin in his eyes. I didn’t take the question serious at the time but now I realize that we should have.” “Yes you should, so what happens after your done eating and ready to leave Applebee’s?” “Well they wanted us to go back to their house because there were some things they wanted to share with us and show me since I’ve been gone.” “You didn’t find that suspicious?” “Well a part of me had wondered, but I thought their my parents I can trust them.” “So you went back to their house?” “Yes.” “What happens next?” “Well we pull up in the drive way, my parents immediately get out and head into the house. Bret gets out and opens the truck door for me when all of a sudden the front door swings open and my dad’s carrying a shotgun, Bret reacts immediately by jumping in front of me. My dad shoots hitting Bret in the Chest, I was so scared as I watched the man I loved slowly falling to the ground I grabbed him before he could hit the ground, but then my dad shoots me in the arm that’s holding onto Bret. My dad looks at me and says that this is what I deserve for sinning against God. Then he returns inside leaving me and Bret there not showing any sign of remorse for what he just did. Once the door was closed I reached with my one hand that was still functional and called 911, after I got off the phone with them I jumped to Bret’s side. A lot of his blood was pouring out so I tried to put pressure on it… but… but it was not working… I was so scared I did not want to lose him, he was my sunshine on cloudy rainy days, and he was my light in the midst of darkness. I don’t know how I can live on without him. My life is no longer going to be the same, they took everything I loved and had away from me once again. These were the last words that Bret had said to me, to tell all his family that he loves them, that everything is going to be alright that I am a strong woman and I could get through this. That he loves me with all his heart and that will obviously never change… I trusted them, I thought they could be adults about this and set all things aside. That they would be happy for me that I had found the man I truly loved. But in reality they couldn’t and for that they no longer deserve my trust.” “Now one more thing I want to ask... Do you think your mom was a part of this?” “Well it’s hard to say but I know that my mom is the thinker of the bunch and my dad wouldn’t do anything without her consent. So there is a possibility that she was.” “Yes there is, well thank you Clara, and once again I am sorry for your lost. I hope things will pick up for you, and that you will find love again.” “Thank you Officer Stevens… Right now I am not sure what the future holds for me, but I know that Bret would never want me to give up… I loved him with all my heart…”
    I watched the tall slender man in a uniform stand up and slowly leave the room, a look of disgrace but relief on his face for finally receiving the truth about what happened that February night. As he closes the door behind him I reach into my pocket to pull out the only picture I have of Bret that was on me… I miss you so much Bret, and things will never be the same without you. You are the man who has changed my life forever, and I will never stop loving you…