Stuart

I was in prison when I heard the news of my wife’s death. I got a call from Tabitha, the nanny of the kid my wife was tutoring,

“I’m so sorry, your wife just died,” her voice sounded like a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Sickly sweet with a sharp undertone.

“How did she die?” I asked the girl.

“Old age it seems like,” Tabitha lied. I knew the bitch was lying because my Allison was only 40. Old age my ass. It was hearing this that made me start doubting Tabitha’s sincerity. Then, my guard decided that I was behaving enough and that I was probably suffering since my wife was dead, and gave me my personal cell phone. I rarely contacted anyone before I was sent to prison so I wasn’t expecting any missed calls or anything. I was just grateful to be able to go through my pictures of Allison. But, something caught my eye. A text notification. It read: “Tabitha is dangerous. Don’t let the snake win.”

Allison rarely messaged me, she would just call occasionally so I knew this was a serious warning. I wanted to do something, anything. I couldn’t stop thinking about my dead wife. About why she really died.

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Regarding her being dead, I was not too upset. Allison Tigglework was my tutor in high school. I was failing calculus senior year and my parents suggested I study with her as she was our next door neighbor. She was known as a kind of genius and was studying teaching or something as well as math in college. One thing led to another, and Allison and I started dating. She was kind, funny, super intelligent, and best of all, a freak in the sheets. That was, until she got older. As she aged, she became more focused on work, more uptight and boring. At a point we decided it would be best to open our relationship. We were more friends than lovers at home. We enjoyed each other’s presence but we didn’t have sex. I don’t know if she was having sex with other people. But I was definitely sleeping with other women. What can I say? I’m not that old, I still have stamina.

I met Emery once before prison. I had been invited to a family dinner. Thanksgiving. His parents didn’t like too many people being in their home but allied me to come since I was Allison's husband. When I saw the kid he looked pretty normal. Except for his eyes. His eyes were like foggy windows. I knew there was something behind them. Some secret. Some story. But I couldn’t quite tell what it was.

Emery definitely noticed me reading him but I couldn’t help but stare. It was so peculiar how he looked ordinary on the outside but gave off a strange aura. A dark one…

The vibe Emery gave off was similar to the one my son gave off. Not only were their auras similar, they also looked alike. My son had problems that I didn’t understand and doctors couldn’t diagnose. He was a brilliant kid, smart, athletic, social.

But he had two kinda big flaws.

He was a sadist and a pathological liar.

His problems led to one of the hardest things I ever had to do.

Something that put me in prison...