He catches me by the hair, again. Shoves me down onto the wet ground. His hands are on my throat, cutting off my airways.
His breath on my face, he yanks at my pants, attempting to pull them down.
“Spread your legs for old times’ sake.”
“No!”
My vision blurs, stars bursting behind my lids.
I bite his nose. Punch and kick him in the face.
His blood trickles onto my cheeks.
He digs the gun into my temple.
I vomit on him.
He strikes me again.
Blood drenches my face. The world spins.
He drags me across the ground and tosses me into the coffin.
Same fate as my parents.
The lid slams shut.
I can’t breathe.
I claw at the wood. My breaths shrink. My chest tightens. My throat closes.
“Please! Get me out of here! Help!”
Memories flood—Irvin. Our wedding. His arms around me. His smile. His touch.
I can’t breathe.
I hyperventilate.
My body is numb.
I pound the roof of the coffin until my fists ache.
Darkness overtakes me.
Irvin
Istare at the concrete walls. The chains around my ankles and wrists bite into my skin. My eyes burn from the white lighting hanging on the wall. It reeks of piss and shit in here. The board members are carrying out my execution first thing in the morning.
I called Jameson and told him everything—that I’m innocent. I don’t know if he believed me; I was only granted a five-minute phone call.
Who the fuck would set me up for the murders on campus?
I have no enemies willing to go this far.
I close my eyes and lean against the padded wall. I picture Lilac happy. I picture her smiling. I hope she gets out of here. I hope she lives a full life. Even though she told me she hated me, I don’t care. I’d rather her hate me than feel nothing at all.
I shake my head. The terror on Lilac’s face sends pain straight through my chest. It doesn’t matter who set me up; I’m going to die in the morning.
