"Maybe you should sit down, honey," Marie, Zora's mother, said after a moment.
After a moment, they explained the details surrounding her death. She was 14 when she accidentally drowned in a river not far from their house. She went swimming every day like she usually did, only this time she did not come back. They showed me her death certificate, amongst other articles that were written about it. I slowly sank down into the porch swing, the only open seat on the porch.
"So tell us why you are here, son," Daniel, her father, asked after giving me a chance to absorb.
I stared at the picture that I showed them, clutching it so tightly that my knuckles turned white. I inhaled a shaky breath and told them everything.
I shared every picture, story, and occurrence with Zora that I could think of. I explained everything that happened that led me to their house. They nodded slowly with eyebrows that remained as high as they could go.
"I know this sounds crazy but is there anyway that she could still be alive?" I could see the pain on their faces, the flash of thoughts of me being crazy but I had to ask.
"I'm really sorry for what happened to your wife. But that is not our Zora," Marie said quietly. Daniel grunted as he stood up.
"I'm sorry officer but this is really upsetting for us. So if you don't mind, please leave."
I gave them a curt nod and apologized for the intrusion. I mean what exactly was I expecting? It was a long shot to even think that for a second they would believe that their daughter who had supposedly died almost 15 years ago would not only be alive but murdering people. I felt bad for even bringing it up to them but I needed to know.
After thanking them, I walked back down the steps, got in my car, and drove away.
***********************
Was I crazy?
This is the thought that plagued me as I drove down the highway. They said Zora died when she was young, which was impossible since I knew she was alive and well. She was living and breathing when we met, when we got married, especially when I saw her last.
So, why does everyone keep saying she was dead?
The officers say she died in the car accident, and now her parents are saying she drowned when she was a teenager. So which one was it? Who is this woman who seems to have resurrected from the dead only to be killed again years later?
It was enough to make me go crazy.
And as if my sanity could take any more, when I unlocked my door, there she was sitting on my couch. She smiled up at me sweetly, like she had so many times before. I just stared at her, still lost in the maze of thoughts.
"About time you got home. I have been waiting for hours," she groaned as she stretched her back.
I locked the door and sat across from her. She was dressed simply in ripped jeans and a crop top. Her hair was in a big ponytail with curls spilling every which way. I stared at her as she continued to smile at me coyly.
"How was your day?"
"Tell me what's going on," I demanded, ignoring her question.
"Tell me where you were," she challenged.
"Your parents house."
Her face softened, and her eyes glazed over, almost as if she was going to cry. "How are they doing?"
"They seem like they are doing well. You know, despite losing their daughter to a drowning incident many years ago," I replied slowly.
"Aiden-" she stood reaching out to me.
I held up a hand to stop her, taking a step back. "I don't know who you are. I thought I knew, but the more I discover, the more I realize that everything you ever told me was a lie."
"That's not true Aiden."
"Then tell me what is. Did you kill that man that I saw you with?"
"Aiden," she shook her head and looked down.
"Did you kill him?" I repeated slowly.
Her eyes slowly looked up before she answered. "Yes"
I tried to swallow the lump in my throat but the more I tried the more it seemed to grow. "Why?"
"It's a long story, and I am not sure you would believe me even if I did tell you."
"I have time." I looked into her beautiful eyes and she stared back into mine. She pressed her lips together and nodded.
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