Sheriff Hadfield waits inside the cabin and stares at the firewood burning in the chimney. A car pulls loudly on the gravel announcing an arrival. Sheriff Hadfield wraps his hands around the armrests of the rocking chair as footsteps are heard across the gravel nearing. A faint knock is heard against the door before the doorknob is turned. The door opens letting in a cool wind and is swiftly closed by her, but not before she wiped her feet carefully on the welcome mat.

#017 comes around and takes a seat on a wooden chair against the wall. Sheriff Hadfield keeps his gaze fixated on the fire away from her. “I noticed that the bullets for all my hunting gear are missing,” Sheriff Hadfield growled.

#017 guiltily shrugs. “One can’t be too careful.”

Sheriff Hadfield grunts in reply. The silence only grows between them as the fire crackles. They sit there in silence for some time, before either of them makes a move. #017 hesitates, before opening her mouth. Before she can speak, Sheriff Hadfield interrupts her. “You know I didn’t believe it, when they said, that you had slaughtered the entire township. Not you. Sure, you had your quirks, but what teenage girl doesn’t?

 I mean, Mary brought you to live with us when you were just thirteen. You had been living with us for two years and were about to officially adopted into the family. But most of all, I saw just how much you loved him-. I just couldn’t and can’t understand, HOW COULD YOU?” Sheriff Hadfield’s voice breaks as he blinks the tears away.

#017 is silent, before she solemnly replied, “It was me, but at the same time it wasn’t. It isn’t the me standing here, but something inside of me tearing its way out.”

 Sheriff Hadfield digests the solemn response for some time. The fire crackles in the darkness as the sun completely vanishes over the horizon. The gloom descends on the cottage as the shadows lengthen and the light fades away.

Sheriff Hadfield finally speaks, “Mary-, Mary didn’t say, why you were given to her to care. I thought you were just a girl involved in a case of sex/human trafficking. So, I didn’t think to ask questions, and when I saw how thin and withdrawn you were. I forgot to ask. We both did.”

The fire crackles loudly for a moment as a brief lapse of silence blossoms between them. “But before she died, Mary was worried about something. She would always be glancing over her shoulders. Now that I think about it, it as if she was afraid and certain that something was going to happen. I don’t know what it was, but Mary said something about the truth being in Mr. Wilkins capable care. I don’t know what it is, but it may hold a clue to whatever it is you are looking for.”

#017 had been avoided gazing at the stuffed figure sitting on the hanging shelf. She slowly raises her eyes to study the cute stuffed brown bear in a blue pin-striped suit and matching blue silk felt bowler hat. Mr. Wilkins was Gabe’s teddy bear. #017’s lips tremble for a moment as she presses her lips tightly together. The urge passes, but still, she remains unable to step forward and reach for the washed bear, that seemed to still faintly carry that unmistakable metallic scent.

Sheriff Hadfield smiles bitterly and says, “Well? Aren’t you going to take it? This is what you came for.”

 #017 turns her eyes on Sheriff Hadfield and narrows them. “No matter what you think of me, I loved him and still love him with all my heart,” #017 steadily said.

Sheriff Hadfield is the first to glance away, returning his gaze to the fireplace. The silence descends once more on the cabin until the fire embers only remain. Sheriff Hadfield grabs the logs piled next to his chair and tosses several logs inside. Embers fly into the air twinkling in the darkness before going out. The fireplace begins to brighten as the fire embers begin to burn and the wood begins to burn strongly.

 “How much time do you have left?” #017 softly asked.

  Sheriff Hadfield stiffens before saying, “What do you mean?’

#017 crosses her arms as she leans against the cabin wall. “There are dark circles under your eyes and red eyes denoting a lack of sleep. Your breathing is highly irregular, nothing that can even be called a regular breathing pattern. Your skin is wane and taut and is beginning to turn yellow, but there is a noticeable lack of alcohol on your breath. Therefore, alcoholism can safely be ruled out. Thereby the only conclusion is that the blood in your body is clearly failing to be cleaned in the liver or kidneys. As for your hands, they shake, jittery from heavy drug use, but nothing that has been prolonged. Not to mention the blue, purple coloring on your hands and no doubt on the rest of your limbs indicating cyanosis,” #017 calmly said as Sheriff Hadfield gapes at her.

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“Your heart is beating slower than normal, causing your blood pressure to drop more than 20 points than is the norm. And despite the warm spring weather, you are rather warmly dressed as if cold. Dad, how much time do you have left?” #017 quietly asked.

Sheriff Hadfield chuckles softly. “Huh, no one in the town knows, but who knew the most unlikely of persons would find out first.”

 #017 eyes fill with pain, hurt at the cold statement driving the message home, past all the walls of denial. “I see, then I’ll go now,” #017 softly said, swiftly walking across the room. #017 gently reaches for Mr. Wilkins, tenderly clutching the bear to her chest as if hugging a soft cuddly, warm body. An expression of pain, love, sadness and so much more emotions cross her face as she hugs that fuzzy brown bear with all of her strength.

Sheriff Hadfield hands whiten as they painfully dig the rocking chair arms. A memory forcibly comes alive before his defiant eyes and unwilling heart and mind. He watches her and Gabe play on the lawn. Gabe giggles loudly being chased by her. Mary kisses his cheek and says, “Thanks honey for washing the dishes,” as she watches the children playing in the backyard.

   Sheriff Hadfield proudly puffs out his chest. “I am a modern man who can wash the dishes!” He proudly said.

Mary snorts and bumps her hips into him. Sherriff Hadfield winces, but Mary’s smile rapidly fades. “Honey, you have to promise me something,” Mary solemnly said as she turns towards him.

 Sherriff Hadfield thinking it’s a game, solemnly says, “Promise,” making an X sign with his soapy hand over his chest.

Mary's lips twitch in a faint smile, but the solemnity of her gaze remains. “No matter what happens, promise me, you’ll always be on Alexandrina’s side,” Mary seriously asked.

 “Of course,” Sheriff Hadfield said.

“I mean it. Promise me,” Mary pleadingly begged.

 “I promise,” Sheriff Hadfield soberly promised.

Sheriff Hadfield blinks as he gazes at her and the bear. He opens his mouth to speak but is unable to. #017 walks towards the door, “Wait!” Sheriff Hadfield exclaimed.

 #017 pauses and turns back. “I want you to do something for me,” Sheriff Hadfield softly said. #017 solemnly nods, expectantly waiting for Sheriff Hadfield to continue as hope rises in her chest. “I want you to kill me and make it look like a suicide,” Sheriff Hadfield determinedly stated.

#017 flinches at the request, gripping Mr. Wilkins tightly to her chest. “Okay. How do you want to do it?” #017 voice wavered as she answered.

 Sheriff Hadfield closes his eyes for a moment, before saying, “Overdose. It will be the easiest and most painless way to go.”

 “Okay,” #017 numbly said. On autopilot, she seats Mr. Wilkins in a nearby chair and begins to prepare the needed items for the operation. She pulls on her gloves before reaching for a glass in the cabinet and fills it with water. She swiftly calculates the number of pills needed for a painless overdose.

 #017 hands the glass back before heading towards the door and wiping down the handles of any fingerprints with a cloth. She had not left any fingerprints anywhere in the house on her first visit, but this second visit, she had failed to do the same. Finished, she closes the door back up and heads towards the kitchen cabinet. She counts out the various painkillers and returns with a handful in hand.

With pills in hands, #017 returns with a plastic water bottle held between her clothing and hand. #017’s hand trembles as her hand paused over the outstretched hand of Sheriff Hadfield. Stiffening her heart, #017 clenched fingers release the pills into the waiting hand below. In one swift, smooth motion Sheriff Hadfield swallows the pills, followed by a cup of water. “You’ll stay, won’t you? Until it’s done, I mean,” Sheriff Hadfield softly said as he stares into the dying fireplace, before placing the cup of water onto the wooden floor next to his feet.

#017 quietly nods her head in response as she grabs Mr. Wilkins and holds him tightly in her arms. She takes a seat next to Sheriff Hadfield in the carved chair next to him and waits. Sheriff Hadfield’s breathing begins to slow and almost unconsciously, #17 reaches over for weak his hand. Sheriff Hadfield eyes begin to droop as he unconsciously squeezes her hand back. Sheriff Hadfield fights to keep his tired eyes. “I think I understand now, what Mary meant. You’ll take care of yourself, won’t you?” Sheriff Hadfield slowly asked.

 #017 blinks back the moisture in her eyes. “Yeah, I’ll be okay, Dad,” #017 sincerely said as her lips tremble. A gentle tired smile appears on his face as Sheriff Hadfield squeezes her hand tightly one last time. #017 squeezes his hand back as Sheriff Hadfield’s eyes grow dull and his grasp goes limp. #017 gently retracts her hand and douses the fire. Without glancing back, she gently closes the cabin door and departs. The road blurs as tears pour down her face, but #017 doesn’t a single time glance back. The town swiftly fades away and soon, #017 is gone.