Red_Roses_and_Black_Dahlias_-_Macy_T

the back of an ambulance drenched in their blood, waiting for my little sister
to get checked by the paramedics.
Of course, I knew she would be okay physically, it was the things she
heard tonight and that were now inked into her mind forever, that worried
me. Always so full of joy and innocence, and so pure— it broke my heart that
my sister knew what happened earlier. It broke my heart that I couldn’t
protect her tonight of all nights, after doing it for almost ten years now.
As the ambulance carrying our parents’ bodies pulled off the curb,
another body bag was brought out of the house. I clenched my teeth, my heart
beating fast as I watched them cart the man whose blood was on my hands
into another ambulance.
Tonight, I had killed.
The realization hit me full force and for a minute I could barely breathe.
Silent tears streamed down my face as a strange sense of peace fell upon me.
The nightmare was over. After everything, we survived, even though we lost
mama and papa.
I did it, I kept the little rose safe, just like they wanted. And I’ll continue
keeping her safe until I take my last breath.
I was my sister’s keeper after all, and I was all she had left.
Someone clearing their throat startled me out of my thoughts, making me
look up into the greenest eyes I had ever seen. Forest green eyes, reminding
me of nature, pine trees and the scent of rain on a lazy day. Eyes I had gotten
lost in countless times, usually as they looked down on me, admonishing and
disapproving. Now those same eyes held pity and compassion, just like
every person that looked at me tonight.
It made me sick to my stomach.
Detective Maddox Brooks was the bane of my existence. Ever since we
came to live in Lakewood almost five years ago, and I started getting in