An Eye for An Eye

“It’s Friday night, Jack; you need your favorite ice cream.”

“But I don’t.” Smiling, I run my fingers through her soft hair.

“Yes, you do. Let’s go to the shop down the street,” she insists. Audrey is always thinking about others.

The store ran out of my favorite flavor, but she thinks I can’t go without it.

She smiles at me when she sees they have it—mint chocolate chip. They scoop the ice cream. I think she’s happier than I am. While we eat, I listen to her talk. All I see is her in her wedding gown last week. She took my last name and made me the happiest man alive.

The bell over the door dings as we leave the shop to go home. We only make it a few steps down the sidewalk before a guy is standing in front of us. His eyes are wide. A gun shakes in his hands, pointed directly at us. Before I can do anything, he pulls the trigger.

My ears are ringing.

My eyes travel down.

Audrey is lying lifeless on the cement.

Blood begins to pool around her, flowing from her white dress.

She has been shot in the stomach. 

“No… No… No.” My knees hit the ground. I press my hands over her wound to stop the bleeding, but it’s not helping.

I reach into my pocket to grab my phone, but in my panic, I can’t keep it still. I take a few breaths and steady myself so I can dial 911.

I turn back to Audrey lying on the ground.

With my hands on either side of her face, I hold her face to mine. I can’t see her crystal blue eyes. My tears drip onto her. “Audrey, open your eyes.” I glance down at her stomach and see more blood pooling on the cement.

The blood flows slowly now.

My tears flow faster than before.

Looping my arms under hers, I hold her tight to my chest. Fear crashes over me when her head falls back, and her long hair wraps around my arms. Her arms drape down. I weep and hold her tighter. My back feels cold without her touch.

“No, Audrey. Please, baby. Stay with me.” I beg. 

I can’t live without her. 

I’m a different man because of her—a better man.

She stays in my grasp against my chest until the authorities pull her away from me.

It’s been a month since I lost Audrey. I don’t leave our apartment. Why would I want to? I look at her photo all day long.

I overhear friends and family talking. I know I will eventually need to leave the house, but I don’t see how. Everything reminds me of her.

All of her things are still here. And they will stay here. Her favorite dress, shoes, coffee mug…it’s all here.

I can sleep in our bed now, but it’s empty. Her side is cold. I toss and turn. I miss her talking for hours before falling asleep. Closing my eyes, I fold my arms behind my head, rest on the pillow, and fall asleep to memories of our conversations.

Another month passes. Every day is painful. Nothing has changed. Why would it? Audrey is still gone.

I can’t move on. 

I lie in this half-empty bed, tossing and turning. The vision haunts me: her last moments, the gun pointed at us, the ringing.

It won’t stop. Then I get an idea.

I pull on my hoodie and go outside. It’s cold and dark. The streetlights are on. Few people are out.

I begin my walk to the place where everything changed. I keep my head down and walk at a steady pace.

My heart picks up pace when I see the corner. 

A chill runs through me. 

If I want to get past this, I know what I need to do. 

I’m close now. Breathing becomes difficult. With only a few more steps to go, my feet stall. The sidewalk ahead is all I see. My legs are heavy, but I manage to walk those steps.

I stand near the place I lost her, my wife. Leaning against the brick, I prop one foot on the wall. I keep my head down and hands in my pockets. I stay hidden in the shadows as people pass by.

The memory of that night returns when a group of girls walks through the blood that’s not there anymore.

They laugh as they walk by, unaware. Audrey took her last breath right there, and they pass through it. I want to stop them, but I don’t. I’m not here to lurk in the shadows.

I came to find him. 

I will find him.

He’s not here tonight, but I will come every night until I find him.

I come night after night.

I stay in the shadows as people pass by.

But I don’t see him.

Months pass, and I make the walk so often now that I’ve become numb. I don’t feel anything anymore. When I find him, I’m not even sure what I will say or if it matters. Audrey has been gone more than seven months.

Tonight, I’m propped against the brick wall in the shadows like every night. I don’t pay attention anymore. My head is down. With my phone in hand, I’m distracted. I look up when I hear someone shout, “Call me later.”

It’s him.

One glance at him and I realize my craving for revenge has not left. Anger boils in my veins. The pain seeps out of me.

With each step he takes, he gets closer.

My heart starts pounding.

I pocket my phone and grab something else.

He’s going to pass by me. The closer he gets, the more my body vibrates with hate. 

I grip the gun in my pocket.

When he steps in front of me, I lunge behind him. I press my left palm firmly against his mouth. Holding the gun in my right hand, I shove it into his back and force him into the nearby alleyway.

“Do what I say.” My jaw stays clenched as I keep the gun pressed into his back.

My breaths come out loud and fast as I lead him to the end. Pinning him against the wall with my gun, I pull a photo of Audrey with my free hand and hold it to his face. Grabbing his jaw, I force him to look at it.

Through gritted teeth, I mutter, “Seven months ago, you shot and killed her.” He glances between the photo and me, shaking his head. 

Panic flickers in his eyes as they gloss over with tears. “Please don’t kill me, sir.” 

I can’t believe he is begging for his life after taking a life. 

“You don’t understand,” he stutters, his voice shaking.

Dropping the photo, I slam him against the wall. “No!” I scream louder than I ever have. “You don’t understand. You killed the love of my life. My everything.”

Tears stream down my face. I let them fall.

I scream.

My hands begin to shake.

He is shaking.

“You killed her. You ruined everything.”

I meet his eyes.

All I see is fear.

Good.

My breath calms. 

I say quietly, “You took her from me.”

Raising my gun to his forehead, I shoot.

My ears ring.

Blood is pooling on the cement.

I lower my gun and stare at him.

A moment later, footsteps scrape against the cement behind me. I turn. At the entrance, a guy stands. 

Not just any guy. 

I know this guy. 

My heart stops.

It’s the guy I just killed.

We look at each other for a moment. 

I can’t breathe. 

He was right. I didn’t understand.

It’s too late now.

I pull my attention back to the guy standing there. 

His eyes drop to the gun in my hand.

Then his eyes move to the body behind me.

His brother.

His twin.

His twin, surrounded by a pool of blood.

Our gazes meet. His eyes flood with tears.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Audrey’s photo. It’s about to be submerged in blood. I grab it. I wipe off what blood I can, then place it back in my pocket.

When I look up, the guy has disappeared.

I look at Audrey’s photo.

It’s stained.

I flick the lights off.

I lie in our empty bed.

A murderer.