- 4.
After the concert, Mom, Dad, and I decided to
stay overnight before heading home.
The next day, I went home as planned.
I saw my house burned, before I even got to
the front yard. The firefighters had just put
out the flames.
I saw a covered body pulled from the rubble.
Neighbors whispered.
“What happened? That fire was huge.”
“Oh my god, someone died.”
I was about to ask what happened when the
scene from my past life came back to life.
Lindsey ran over, grabbed me, and dragged
<
me in front of the body.
Her face was pale, streaked with tears.
“Lindsay! Why would you DO this?!” she
shrieked. “Mom’s dead because of you!”
Chad rushed to her side, backing up Lindsey’s
accusations.
“Lindsay! She was your mother! How could
you do this to her?!”
Their voices were loud, attracting attention.
I feigned innocence. “What are you talking
about? I didn’t do anything to Mom!”
Lindsey sobbed. “I can’t believe you! You just
had to light fireworks inside, and Mom didn’t
want you to!”
She threw herself onto the covered body,
weeping.
“And you still won’t admit it!” she wailed, her
words coming faster and faster.
“You always ruin everything! Were you trying
to destroy our family? Is that what you
<
wanted?”
“What did I do wrong? What did Mom do
wrong? Why would you hurt her like this?!” “You’re just jealous because Mom and Dad
like me better!”
“Lindsay, you have to take responsibility for
what you’ve done!”
Lindsey’s voice was shrill and cutting.
The small crowd that had been dispersing
began to grow again, drawn in by the drama.
“Was it murder?”
“She killed her own mother? That’s messed
up.”
“If you piss her off, she’ll set your house on
fire.”
“Why is her boyfriend taking her sister’s
side?”
“Would you defend a killer?”
My throat tightened, my body trembling.
But this time, I wouldn’t back down.
L
Seeing my pale face, Lindsey and Chad
thought they had me cornered. They pushed
harder.
“I didn’t do this!” I insisted.
Lindsey turned to the neighbors, tears
streaming down her face.
“Everyone saw what happened. She’s still
lying…”
“How could she do this to the parents who
loved her?”
“And what about me?”
Lindsey clutched her chest, as if my coldness
had wounded her deeply.
The older neighbors shook their heads.
One woman handed Lindsey a tissue and
offered words of comfort.
