“I found the surveillance footage outside your villa. It shows the necklace being thrown out of the window. I’ve sent someone to
search the area, but it’s been days. I don’t know if we’ll ever find it.”
Mitchell’s expression cracked, barely holding together his composure.
“I understand. There’s one more thing. It’s been a while, but I need you to look into it for me.”
His voice was calm, but the rest of him betrayed the storm raging inside. Mitchell slumped to the floor, overwhelmed, his mind
struggling to process the news.
I wondered if he would finally realize that in those last moments before I jumped, all I wanted was to hear him say, “I believe
you.” But he never did. That silence was the final straw that broke me.
Mitchell began sifting through the remnants of my life—everything I left behind. He lingered on the small stuffed bear, its fur
worn and faded. When he found the folded notes I’d hidden inside it, his walls finally crumbled.
[Mitchell, I want to go home! It hurts so much! My body is covered in bruises. I look awful, and it hurts.
[Mitchell, am I going to die? I’m so hungry. I want the spaghetti you used to make me. I’ve been locked in the dark room for two
days. I’m thirsty and starving.
[Mitchell, when are you coming to get me? I didn’t push her, I swear.
[Mitchell, where are you? Why don’t you love me anymore? Why did you abandon me?
[Mitchell, I feel terrible. I have a fever. My teacher made me stand in ice water. It hurts so much.
[Mitchell, they stuck needles in my hand. It hurt so bad.
[Mitchell, I almost died. They strapped me to an electric chair, and I vomited from the pain. I nearly choked.
[Mitchell, I don’t want to go back to the dark room. That teacher’s terrifying. It hurts so much.
[Mitchell, I didn’t push Maggie. Why won’t you believe me?
[Mitchell, what do I have to do to make you believe me? Do I have to die?
