Chapter 5
Evelyn had spent hours at the cemetery. As she prepared to leave, she froze at the sight of a group approaching from across the grounds.
Issac spotted her immediately.
It was their first encounter since her accident.
His eyes darkened at the sight of the flowers on Sophia’s grave.
Then his mother, Mrs. Hernandez, saw Evelyn and rushed forward, grabbing her roughly.
She struck Evelyn across the face. “Who said you could come here? Get out! Get out!”
The slap left Evelyn seeing stars as she stumbled backward.
“Mrs. Hernandez, I just wanted to visit-”
“Shut up!” Mrs. Hernandez screamed. “You have no right to visit her. Sophia died because of you. Get out!”
Evelyn’s cheek swelled red, but she remained silent.
Mr. Hernandez rushed to restrain his wife. “Leave, Evelyn. Don’t come back!”
But Mrs. Hernandez wasn’t finished. She broke free, grabbed the flowers from the grave, and hurled them at Evelyn, her sobs turning hysterical.
“Stop pretending to care! If you hadn’t run away, if you’d stayed to help her, Sophia wouldn’t have died so horribly. Five drunk men–you left her alone with five monsters! When they found her body… there was nothing left to save!”
Mrs. Hernandez’s hatred ran deep.
Even though everyone knew that if Evelyn had stayed, both girls would likely have been victims.
But Sophia’s death had been so brutal it blinded everyone with hatred.
They blamed Evelyn for not letting Sophia escape first.
While those men would rot in prison forever, they wanted Evelyn to rot in her guilt just as long.
Mrs. Hernandez continued hitting her through tears. “My Sophia was so young, so kind… why did you run? Why did you leave her alone?”
Finally, she shoved Evelyn hard. “Why did Sophia die while you still live? Why won’t you just die!”
Evelyn stumbled backward, her head striking another headstone. Blood streamed down her forehead.
Issac’s fists clenched. He grabbed Evelyn’s arm roughly.
“Mother, not in front of Sophia’s grave. I’ll remove her now.”
He dragged her away.
Outside the cemetery, he threw her aside violently.
His eyes were pitch black with rage, yet something else lurked beneath. “Do you have a death wish? I warned you never to come here again.”
Evelyn’s voice cracked. “I wanted to see Sophia…”
“You don’t deserve to.” His voice was ice.
He turned sharply and re–entered the cemetery, ordering security to remove her.
Those words-“You don’t deserve to“-cut like knives into her heart.
Evelyn stumbled away, tears streaming down her face as Sophia’s voice echoed in her memory:
“Eve, matching friendship bracelets–one for each of us. We’ll be best friends forever, you can’t get rid of me that easily!”
“Eve, I saw Issac looking at engagement rings yesterday. He’s going to propose!”
“Once he’s your husband, he’ll keep you all to himself. Let’s go see a movie tonight, just us girls?”
“Eve, run! Run now!”
Evelyn’s tears flowed endlessly.
Sophia, if you only knew how much I regret not shielding you that night, not making you run instead.
If I had died, fewer people would have grieved.
An orphan’s death wouldn’t have mattered so much.
If I had died then, Issac might have loved me forever.
We might never have ended up like this.
The pain overwhelmed her. Finally breaking down, Evelyn crouched on the ground, her sobs echoing through the empty street.
Chapter 6
The next day, Evelyn called in sick.
She visited St. Michael’s Cathedral, an ancient church on the outskirts of the city known for its spiritual significance.
Over the years, she’d spent countless hours there, kneeling in prayer.
Praying for Sophia’s soul to find peace.
Praying for Issac’s health and happiness.
But soon, she wouldn’t have the chance to come anymore.
This time, she knelt beneath the old oak tree in the cathedral garden.
Legend said that those who proved their devotion could request the church’s most sacred relics.
As evening fell, snow began to fall heavily.
The bitter wind whipped against Evelyn’s body, making her dizzy with cold.
Pain wracked her entire body, so intense that even in the freezing weather, sweat beaded on her forehead.
She trembled violently until finally, blood spilled from her lips.
Still, Evelyn didn’t move. She knelt there for a day and a night.
At dawn, Father Michael found her half–buried in snow. Then he noticed the blood staining the white ground.
“Child, your devotion is profound. What do you seek?”
Evelyn rose unsteadily, her face deathly pale, and crossed herself.
“Two blessed candles… and a protection medallion.”
The blessed candles were said to ensure peace for departed souls when placed at their memorial.
Evelyn rushed to the office as soon as she received them, though her steps were unsteady.
These would be her final gifts to them.
Knowing Issac would reject anything from her directly, she secretly placed the candles on his desk during lunch hour.
The protection medallion she planned to slip into his car when she had the chance.
Instead of leaving, she waited outside the building, hoping to see if Issac would keep the candles.
At 6:30, he emerged holding the gift bag she’d left.
Evelyn’s hopes rose, only to see him hand the bag to his assistant with a gesture toward…
The dumpsters.
She followed the assistant frantically.
Seeing him about to throw away the candles, she rushed forward. “Stop!”
She grabbed the bag, only to find it empty.
“I knew it was you.” Issac’s cold voice came from behind her.
Evelyn turned slowly to see him holding the candles.
20.46
