She Called Me a Thief

The cops moved fast. Right after I came downstairs, I ran into the officers who had hurried over after Nancy Summerson's call. They stopped me and were about to take me in.

I smiled bitterly and took out the marriage license, then I explained the story. Once the truth was clear, the officers looked at me with pity.

One of them patted my shoulder and asked kindly, "It's the holidays. Do you want us to explain it to them?"

My lips tugged, and I shook my head. Explanations were useless. She knew the whole story, after all.

The cops left. I sat on the long bench under the building, and I looked at the warm light coming from my house. It radiated a soothing yellow.

I sat on the bench for a long, long while.

Snow was starting to fall, and I let it settle on my shoulders and hair. Eventually, the snow was thick enough to make my hair white. Only then did Nancy come downstairs with Ronald Riverton and her parents to set off fireworks.

She was stunned when she saw me. Then impatience quickly flared in her eyes.

Nancy's parents saw me too. Her mother stepped forward and held her hand tightly. Worried, she said, "I thought you called the cops. Why is he still here? Is he watching us? That's terrifying."

Nancy shot me a displeased look, then comforted her mother in a soothing voice. "It's alright. The police probably haven't arrived. I'll call them." She then walked away to make another call.

Whatever the police said on the other end made her face turn red.

A moment later, she hung up quietly. Her parents looked at her in concern.

She said softly, "It's the holidays, and they're busy. Put ourselves in their shoes for a moment. It's alright. We'll just go ahead. There are four of us here. He won't do anything."

She glared at me. I knew she was telling me to leave. The old me would have done whatever she wanted the moment she gave me a look. But now, I only felt exhausted. I did not want to move.

My refusal to move earned me another angry glare.

Nancy grabbed her parents and Ronald and snapped, "Ignore him! We'll set off the fireworks!"

I watched as she handed Ronald a firework, smiling brightly.

This scene was grating. I moved my legs, already stiff, and tried to leave, but then a lit firecracker flew in my direction.

When I realized what was coming, I blocked it with my hand. The firecracker popped. I fell to the ground, sharp pain spreading through my hand. Through the blur, I saw panic flash across Nancy's face. She wanted to come over, but Ronald held her back.

He leaned close and said something to her in a low voice.

Nancy stopped.

Then, she looked at me with a conflicted expression.