The Crash

by Freida McFadden

I’ve never killed anyone before. I’m not a murderer. I’m a good person. I don’t lie. I don’t cheat. I don’t steal. I hardly ever even raise my voice. There are very few things I’ve done in my life that I’m ashamed of. Yet here I am.

But that’s what she said last night.

“If you light a candle before you chop onions, it burns off the toxins so your eyes don’t water.”

Crazy woman. Crazy way to make it true

Psychopath

I’m still here, Mama. You’ve got me!

I’ve spent so many years of my life focusing on the child I wanted so badly. But Hank is my family, and he’s given me more love than I would have gotten from a dozen kids. It took almost losing everything to realize how blessed I am.

But even if I could forgive him for the accident, there’s no mistaking what he was trying to do with that vial of morphine. He saw the look in my eyes and knew I was never going to take Simon’s money. He was out of options, and he meant to kill me just to ensure his deal with Simon would go through. How can I ever forgive him for that?

I’m not in any rush, but maybe my love life isn’t completely over. Maybe tonight, after dinner is over, he’ll suggest we prolong the evening by watching a movie together on the sofa. And then when I finally walk him to the door, he’ll lean in for a kiss. And then I’ll kiss him back. Jackson is a good man. I wasn’t sure if they existed, but if they do, he’s one of them. He cares about me a lot, and one of these days, he’d make a great father to my little girl. And I know that if I ever told him anything again in the future, he would believe me without question.

He kisses me before I leave the room. He holds me in his arms for just a little bit too long, but that’s okay, because I don’t want to let go either. He’s the best husband I could ask for. And I’m so happy that he kept me from making a terrible mistake one year ago. You know you’ve got someone really special when they are able to save you from ruining your own life.

But this wasn’t just any child.