Chapter 3 - The Unraveling
Patricia entered the room.
She looked small.
Ordinary.
The silk blouse wrinkled.
“What is this?”
She asked the air.
“Your life,” I answered.
“Your stolen life.”
She looked at the folder.
She knew the contents.
She had always known.
“Claire, dear.”
She tried the voice.
“Let’s talk reasonably.”
“There is no reason.”
“Only consequences.”
Daniel sat down.
The chair creaked.
He looked broken.
A man of glass.
Shattering.
“We built this,” he said.
“I built nothing.”
“I only sustained you.”
“For six years.”
I felt the power.
Not of greed.
But of truth.
“I have the files.”
“The IRS will see.”
“The bank will act.”
Patricia began to shake.
Not out of sadness.
Out of fear.
The facade was gone.
“You wouldn't.”
“I already have.”
I walked to the window.
The neighborhood looked new.
Different.
Clearer.
“You thought I was soft.”
“You thought I was blind.”
“I was just waiting.”
“For the final piece.”
Daniel stood up.
He tried to look tough.
Broad shoulders.
Warm eyes.
But he was hollow.
“We’ll fight you.”
“With what money?”
“The stolen funds?”
“They’re frozen.”
“All of them.”
Patricia cried.
Weak, selfish tears.
“Where will I go?”
“To your condo.”
“The one you own.”
“The one you hid.”
“Outright.”
The truth hit hard.
Like a closing door.
The trap was shut.
They were finished.
And I felt light.
Light as air.
The house grew cold.
The silence grew loud.
May you like
But I was ready.
For the end.
