Many times we think, even if a person is clear like water, that appearances can be deceiving. Thus, the most attractive man and most decent women can be only screens to please our eyes. With this we can see that, when we know someone, we must see beyond that with our eyes-that is to say - we must do it with our soul and instincts. Many times, we are deceived by the screens, fall at the feet of man that we believe are Peter Pan or women who are like Snow White, but in reality they end up being the Captain Hook and the Wicked Witch.
It is very easy to talk about us as the deceived person, as one who has suffered the pain to unmask a being who we thought was a person and it turned out to be another. Certainly, we always get in the plan of the victims, but very few times we are the person who causes damage, such as the one that lies and kills. I could talk to you about me as one who has been deceived and offended, but I have to say that I’m too honest with myself as to deny the truth in this story. I could make you believe that I am innocent, even a victim of the facts; but as I said before, I have decided to put the more crude of the truths, without trying to deceive, because only I would deceive myself.
Chapter One: How it all started
At first, I didn't understand the reason for the commotion. Only a man had disappeared, the most insignificant of them, one night he got drunk more than what he was used to and PUM, we never saw him again.
His name was Philip Blanc, my husband; he worked in a mechanical station behind the main avenue, next to a greasy restaurant and a pharmacy with poor health conditions. He was a boy pretending to be a great man of city when I met him. Wearing expensive suits and driving me to fine restaurants. Twice promising the moon and the stars, and I, so young and inexperienced fell in the pitfalls of a player, without knowing what I was exposing to.
Every morning the routine was the same. I stared at the mirror, smiling to a husband who was lying asleep in front of my reflection. Always thinking about the future that we would have, with that child who had not yet come to our lives, I dreamed that we would live in a nice place, middle-class, and being happy together. I was so innocent; I believed the story of the faithful husband and worker who came home late and tired from a hard day of work.
And, obviously he believed my story, the girl of a large family that had come to live with his aunt, with more money than he could imagine. Were we lucky! Weren’t we? But after the wedding we realized that none of the two had where to be buried. We both married by interest. Who would have thought that that boy so perfect it would have been a homeless vagabond? And I am sure he thought exactly the same way I do. We have deceived one another. Ha! Life seemed to give so many laps at that time.
While I remembered everything, he had already awakened, and he had approached sneaking up on me. I must admit that I was frightened to death that morning because I felt that my heart went out of the mouth. These little surprises made me want this man, although I sincerely could not love him as I should.
As always, Philip went toward their job and left me home alone and bored. I had realized that Philip forgot his tools, and that we had no vegetables in the pantry, so that, with a unusual joy, I went to the grocery store using one of my most beautiful dresses to visit my husband at work and leave what he had forget.
I went out walking, as I didn’t want to take the bus. The mechanical was very close to home, so I could spend there on the way to the supermarket. It was a glorious day and I had quickly come to Philip’s work. A girl who worked there told me to wait a second while she looked out for him, but she returned so quickly that I was sure that she was unable to locate him.
-What happened? – I asked very concerned. The poor girl was as white as paper.
- I’m so sorry, Grace. Philip has not been here this week. Said he has been very sick. Isn't he?
-Oh! Yes he has. I should have forgotten it. I have been so distracted. Sorry, Ann.
- Don’t worry, Grace. Have a nice day.
- Thank you, Ann. Bye.
I must say that in the beginning I was very confused. Every morning this week I had seen Philip leave for work and come back late in the night. But then I saw them. It must have been the most striking image that I've seen so far; because I was standing there during what I appreciated an eternity. The thing is that, what affected me was not to see Philip with another woman, what hurt me the most was knowing that it was her, my sister. Sara.
You probably think that I’m crazy, which sincerely I accept, because the first thing I thought at that moment was. "It's ok" In my mind I never had the idea of revenge or resentment. Just wanted take the chance and leave. I didn’t love Philip; I had never ... but I only needed an opportunity.
And the opportunity came to me.
Chapter 2: Sister’s fail
On my way home, I thought of a great output. Just leave a note and rush toward my precious freedom. If only things were so easy, huh? The moment when my cell rang, I knew that I was engaged in problems. Philip had told me not to leave the house, that it could be dangerous. What would be the able to hurt me? I hoped he’s not.
- Hello?
- Ann? Where are you?
- I’m on my way home. How’s work?
- I’m very busy right now. Grace is mad because I didn’t presented some papers so I’m going to be late for dinner. - Then, someone told him something and he started laughing. At that time I didn’t think what I was saying so…
- OK. Give my greetings to Sara. I hope his family is ok.
- What the…?.- I hung up before he could hear my silent suffering.
I went home and shower again. I should take off this feeling of disgust that had overcome me. Clearly, he didn’t understand how all of this affects me. Sara would pay for this, and I was completely sure that she would suffer more than what she had done to me. I would kill anybody who would make her happy ... or at least that was what I thought.
She was my sister; therefore I had complete access to her home. It was not my policy to harm children, by which I told them that they would sleep in my house because their Mommy was busy. It is easy to fool the small innocent souls of lovely children. I took them to a cabin that we had on the outskirts of the city. They asked me about his uncle Phil and I told them he was on a business trip, while anger and hate were boiling in my heart.
A call. I only needed a call to start hell in Sara’s heart and limbo in Philip’s head. But I still needed time. These children shouldn’t be with his mother ever more and I would make sure that Sara doesn’t come back with them… alive. It wasn’t easy to plan someone’s death without having to dirty my hands, but my logic was easy. The "love" that join them ... is the "love" that take them apart.
I turned on my cellphone and noticed that I had 20 missed calls from Philip. I was sure that he was concerned about the kids, but hey, he didn’t think I was so mean, did he? With those thoughts I returned his calls. Anger was consuming me.
-Ann. What are you doing with Paula and Martin? - he was very angry, I hadn't noticed how happy I was when he was angry.
- Oh, Philip! What a nice surprise! Look, when I saw both of you having a great time in that restaurant, I thought that maybe the kids were alone at their home, so I decided to have some fun with them.
-Oh my God! Ann, don't do anything that you may regret for.
- Like you did? Honey, this is not personal. – At that time I felt like I was getting insane, like my madness was ravaging each part of my being.- Don’t waste your time with me, I’m sure your dear Sara is hysterical.
- Ann, please! I didn’t meant to hurt you. You don’t love anyways. What is the point of doing this?
- No, my dear, I don’t love you, but I love her, and I thought she loved me… but that’s not true. Anyways, she’s my sister and the only thing she really loves is safe, but you my love… You’re in great danger.
I hung up the phone quickly and took the kids to the winery. There were many toys so they didn’t ask anything about what was going on. Suddenly, my head was lit. I had the idea to call Chandra, my best friend and ask her to take care of the kids while I was out. She obviously accepted, and she was there five minutes after hung up the phone.
She didn’t ask anything and stayed with my nephews, while I went to a hotel on the other side of the town. I wanted to make them suffer and what was the better way for suffering? Waiting for something to happen.
Summarizing everything that happened after, the days passed and the anxiety was growing in my heart, until it suddenly stopped. The time had come and I should put the plan into action. I send a message to Chandra to hide children and another to Sara, which said that she would never see again her pretty little kids.
The minute of having sent the message, I got the call I was waiting for. Sara was desperate and had been driving to the hotel where they had located my cellphone. Life is so predictable, and I was waiting for her in my room.
When she came to my room, forced the door and when it opened, she had a great disappointment at not seeing the children with me. Madness can consume up the more pure being when this is deceived; and when I saw Sarah, I did not see my sister, I only saw a woman who had been laughing at myself for who knows how long.
-Hi, sister. Want a cup of tea? - I was as calm as I could.
- Where are my kids? – She was practically yelling at me.
- I don’t know, maybe they went down through the window or just went to sleep very early. I can’t be sure. - My madness was flooding out of my control.
- Be serious, Ann. You’re not like that! – What a surprise! She was crying.
- I’m serious; you crushed with my life, you cheated on me! What makes you so special to think that I won’t do the same with yours? - I was getting insane and enjoying it. – And don’t you have a husband that’s out of town? I can make some calls, you know. I can make him suffer, like you made me suffer.
- It was a mistake Ann, I didn’t mean this to happen, I didn’t want to make out with Philip but that just happened. I’m so sorry.
- No, you’re not, and your kids suffered that. Now they are resting in peace God knows where. So, you have paid what you owe, goodbye Sara.
At that time she lashed out at me, unfortunately for her I got apart from the edge of the window and she fell nine floors down ... what a pity. One in the bag and was missing … one.
Chapter Four
Now I should deal with the hotel employees. I could let go a little of the pain that had been torturing me, and as soon as the tears were outside, I began to scream. By the time some employees came running to my room and saw the broken window and a poor women crying in the floor, I realized I had already won the game.
I won’t deny that they asked me many questions. Who was she? Why she had attacked me? What did I do to deserve that? And I told them the truth: that she was my sister and she had been with my husband; that her children were with me and she believed that I would hurt them, and that I tried to hide from his madness but she found me. Well, the latest was not truth, but they believed it.
At that time, I only needed a call to end this nightmare. When the call finally arrived, I was on the edge of collapse. My nerves were torturing me and when the phone rang, I could no longer with my own existence.
-Ann, where is Sara? She’s not answering her phone.
- I don’t know she didn’t come here; I’m in the cabin with the kids. Sorry, love. They need me, and I should go.
-Ann, don’t hang up the phone. Please, I’m sorry. I didn’t…I wouldn’t… just…forgive me.
- Goodbye Philip.
And then we go back to the top. After this call I took the children and buy a few airline tickets. I suspected that Chandra knew what had happened so I made her promise that she wouldn’t say anything. I knew that the blame to know that Sara was dead and that the children had disappeared was going to be too much for Philip and I was happy with that.
It was so gratifying to see how everything he loved crumbled. And it had been so easy to get away with the murder of this woman, maybe too easy for someone who had never done anything like this.
I knew that I should enjoy before the guilt will start to corrode my bones. So I took the kids to the beach. When they asked what had happened to Sara, I responded that I had been told that she was going to a business trip and that she would call when he returned. It seemed to be enough as to not disturb the rest of the trip.
When we returned, there were newspapers announcing it everywhere. “A car had fallen down the hill, having been the driver drunk” And the victim's name written in red letters on the top:
Philip Blanc
When the kids read it, I couldn't let go my sadness to see them so badly. His beloved uncle had died and I had been traveling and didn’t know it. The sadness that flooded from the bottom of my soul to know that I had no longer a reason of existence, the same reason that had made me spend these last few months, that sadness was uncontainable.
The revenge had been my hope, my motivation of life. What would I do with my life then? Suddenly, the response fell before my eyes. On the next page was the news of Sara’s death and Paula was the unfortunate to read it. At the beginning she didn’t react, didn't believed what she was reading and I should continue with my performance, so I asked her what was going on.
The days after those were screaming and crying. The father of the children was far away, so I took care of them the days until the funeral. It was good to see that I could achieve what I propose to, so I started a new crusade. I had to be with the husband of my sister. Carlos was my new desire.
Last Thought
When the years pass, you get to forget your mistakes or to live with them. Perhaps their mistakes served to make me open a highway to reach my freedom. Loving a man who loves me back, and having a family that knows how to comfort me. That's the great thing about mistakes, when you tap the bottom, what remains is to go up.
What I appreciate the most is not having second thoughts about what I did. I don’t regret because I didn’t killed them. They killed one another. I was only an intermediary in the game of destiny. And I really enjoyed it.