Introduction
A light dusting of snow covered the ground. Small snowflakes fell every so often. The cold hadn’t reached the pond yet. Lights of various colors hung from the almost completely leafless trees, a small collection of oranges and reds could still be found hanging from branches here and there. The lights reflected dreamily off of the surface of the pond like a mirror. The water rippled with the movement of the fish that had been placed inside of it over the summer. A young woman, couldn’t be over twenty, sat at the edge of the pond on the snow; the only one that could be found outside at such a time. A single tear fell into the pond, small ripples breaking the mirror like image of the pond’s surface. Her reflection stared back at her, a mocking reminder of her poor appearance. Makeup smudged and running. Eyes bloodshot and glassy with tears. The thoughts of the events she had witnessed running through her head as the cold seeped through her thin sweater, not made for this weather. Now knowing what she knew, everything fit together perfectly; if only she could have remembered sooner. Maybe then all of this might have been avoided.
Not too far away lights from a police car flashed red and blue. The officers running into her house’s open door. She had called them only minutes ago. The time felt meaningless to her. They could never get there soon enough.
“Miss, are you hurt?” One officer asked as he walked towards her. Footsteps crunching against the cold ground. She shook her head. It wasn’t her they should be worried about.
“He’s inside.” She answered, continuing to watch her reflection carefully. Did this really happen to her? What will become of her now? The officer walked away. Another tear broke the surface of the water.
“Are you the one who called?” The officer asked as he returned with a blanket. The woman didn’t take it, but let him wrap it around her. Holding it in place after he let go. She nodded. “You should get inside where it’s warm. Will you come with me to the police station? We’re going to have to ask you some questions about what happened.” She already knew this was going to happen. No one was going to believe her; she didn’t even believe herself.
“I think I might be crazy.” She spoke, turning to look up from the pond. The officer only looked back into her eyes sympathetically.
“You’re not crazy.” He told her.
“You say that now, but once I tell you what happened…”
“Don’t worry about what anyone will think, just come with me and tell us what you remember.” She nodded. Honesty might be the best option she has right now. No matter how absurd it is.
