Chapter 5: Justice and Goodbye

4

Rachel’s death was a heavy blow to Mark. He’s in great pain now, but before long, he’ll forget his guilt and go on with his successful life. Men always do.

But my Rachel will be buried underground, lonely and forgotten. The wind will sweep over her grave, the headstone growing moss and the world moving on without her.

I won’t allow it.

Mark was pinned down in the front yard. My people found their old wedding dress in Mark’s house. It was packed away in a faded garment bag, smelling of mothballs and a love that never lasted.

“These are Rachel’s wedding clothes.”

I carelessly stroked the fabric. It was soft, but I felt nothing.

“Burn them.”

“These are the decorations Rachel bought.”

“Smash them.”

“This is...”

I wanted the Mark family to watch as I erased every trace of Rachel’s existence, one by one. Like scrubbing blood from a white tablecloth, until there was no evidence she’d ever been there.

David still didn’t understand what I was doing. Only Mark’s eyes were bloodshot, and he kept growling,

“Stop it! Stop it! Rachel will come back, she will come back. She’s just angry with me, like always...” His voice cracked, breaking open all the wounds between us.

I clicked my tongue. Who was he putting on an act for? Even in grief, he couldn't let go of the performance.

My staff were efficient, and soon Mark’s house was emptied. Other than the house itself, nothing remained. The neighbors watched through their blinds, the word already spreading up and down the street.

This family bled Rachel dry, yet forced her to a dead end.

I closed my eyes, but the corners of my mouth curled into a smile.

“Since you all love each other so much, I’ll grant Sarah to you as your wife. From now on, David will be her child.”

Upon hearing this, Sarah was overjoyed. Her eyes flashed, and she almost smiled before remembering to look solemn.

She was about to kneel and thank me, but Mark objected.

“In this life, I will have only Rachel as my wife.” His voice was hoarse, but he stood tall.

David, however, happily knelt beside Sarah, impatiently calling her mom.

“Mom, I finally waited for you to be my mom. I didn’t like that tiger.”

Then he turned to Mark,

“Dad, didn’t you say Aunt Sarah is the best woman in the world?”

Mark’s face was ashen, refusing to reply. He looked at his son, and then at the empty space Rachel used to fill, and seemed to fold into himself.

I chuckled softly and left the marriage certificate. The paper felt heavy in my hand, a symbol and a sentence.

Weren’t they so deeply in love? Then let them have what they wanted, so as not to tarnish Rachel’s name.

As I left, I tossed out a piece of paper, on which two words were especially clear—

Divorce.

“Mark, you’re not worthy to be buried with her.”

The night air bit at my face as I walked to my car. Somewhere, a dog barked, the moon caught in the bare branches overhead. I got behind the wheel, started the engine, and drove away, the headlights carving a path into the darkness Rachel left behind.

As I disappeared down the county road, I wondered if Rachel could see me now—from whatever world she called home. And if she did, would she forgive me?