Love Hurts

Nora

CASE NO: 2026-48322

DATE: September 18, 2026

LOCATION: Interview Room B

Crossridge Police Department

STATEMENT OF: Nora Gallagher.  (DOB: June 14, 1992)

PHONE: 332-555-0000

STATEMENT:

On Friday September 18, 2026, at 8:15 PM I was exiting my car in the parking lot of 604 Reed Lane Crossridge,

Ohio 44300. There was no one else visible to me as I walked to my

apartment (Apartment D).

I was holding my set of keys trying to locate the key to unlock the door when someone

came from behind placing their hand over my mouth telling me not to say a word. I did

not get a look at the person, but judging by their presence behind me they were around

5’8” tall. I couldn’t make out a gender. They had a black glove on the hand over my.

mouth. They were also holding some sort of cloth. The next thing I knew I woke up.

laying on the door step of. the apartment feeling groggy. I looked at my phone that was

laying beside me with my keys and the time was 9:59 PM. I did not have my purse with

me, but a small notebook that I use as a journal was missing. The money in my jacket

pocket was still all there and nothing else seemed to be out of place.

I was able to get up on my own, unlock the apartment door and go inside, locking the

door behind me. I then called 911 and asked for a officer to be sent to my apartment.

Nothing inside seemed disturbed.

This is a true statement to the best of my knowledge and memory.

Signature: Nora A. Gallagher

Witnessed by: Officer B. Taylor #54

“Nora. This is getting out of hand.” my mom sat on the side of the bed with me as I tried to convince her I wasn’t lying, and the events of September 18th had actually happened. Her face was laced with confusion and disappointment.

“No one ever believes me.” I whined grabbing my comforter, pulling it over top of my head and twisting to my side ,laying my head down on the pillow.

“You do know they reviewed the ring camera footage, and you got out of your car at 8:15 and walked to your door, unlocked it, and went inside. There is video evidence that you are not telling the truth.”

I threw the comforter off of me and sat up again. “Of course I KNOW THIS” I started, increasing the volume as I went on. “I know what happened and someone had to mess with the footage. That is the only explanation.” Fatigue started to wash over me. I was so sick of trying to defend myself and quite frankly was sick of no one believing anything I said, ever.

“Then why would there be absolutely no witnesses to confirm what you are saying? This is a busy apartment complex. There were many people in and out between 8:15 and the time you said you woke up on the step. You think they all just ignored a woman laying on her stair steps and then lied about it?” Brenda shook her head and stood up. “I am going to head out. I left a phone number on your dresser. Please consider calling their office. They have some really awesome therapists.”

I listened as the footsteps faded down the hall and the apartment door shut. Tossing my legs over the bed, I willed myself to get up. I knew that it looked like I was lying, but something was wrong. Lying for attention as a teen and in my early twenties had damaged a lot of my relationships, but that was the past. I needed the people I loved to believe me.

Faint music started playing down the hall way. What is that?

I made my way down the hallway slowly, trying to figure out where the music was coming from. That’s when it dawned on me, I had my phone on. It was just the ringtone.

“What a moron.” I yelled at myself, smacking the palm of my hand against my forehead.

“Hello?” I answered.

Derick

Spineless piece of shit. The voice played over and over in my head. Anger pulsated through me as I tried to keep it contained. My grip on the bottle of water I was holding, getting tighter. 

Revenge is a dish best served cold. I have been waiting for this moment for years.

“Lying bitches get stitches.” The last words I muttered to her as we went our different ways. There is nothing I hate more than a liar and that’s all because of her. She took my heart, ripped it straight out of my chest and danced all over it. Not stomped, danced. My attempt to contain my anger failed as the plastic water bottle I had exploded all over me. Frustrated I slam the bottle to the ground and grab a towel off the kitchen counter wiping myself and the floor dry. My plan was going as well as it could, but reconnecting with her was proving to bring up unresolved issues. The easy part of the plan was over. I exposed her for what she was, a lying bitch. I could feel the vein in my neck pulsating, the anger continuing to boil inside.

My intense hate started after she left me at the alter. Yep, the classic runaway bride. I saw her that morning, she got to the church and stepped out of the blue SUV, wearing a button down, pale yellow blouse, and a pair of sweat pants and Crocs. Wedding hair was done, and she grabbed the dress out of the backseat, waiting for the rest of the group to also exit. I backed away from the window, hoping she didn’t see me trying to catch a glance. She insisted that we not see each other that morning. I never really understood the superstition, but there must be some truth to it, considering how the day ended for me.

Everything was set, the bridesmaids and groomsmen walked down the aisle and I stood there waiting on the beautiful bride to make her grand entrance. That entrance never came. I stood there for about ten minutes until it finally felt like something was really wrong. It wasn’t like her dad was out there with her, as her father had passed away when she was a little girl, and there was no one she wanted to replace him with to walk her down the aisle. It was the one traditional she was ok with not doing.

After another ten to fifteen minutes, her maid of honor came back and whispered in my ear the words that broke me. “I’m sorry. She said she doesn’t want to marry you. The wedding is off.”

I thought for sure I would never see her again, and I had no doubt I would never get a real explanation, but I was wrong. I saw her a few weeks later sitting at the bar with her new boyfriend. Yep, moved on in a matter of weeks. The sight of the two made me want to throw up, but it didn’t make me sad. It pissed me off. I decided to confront the two. I was already left at the alter in front of two-hundred plus people, this would be a piece of cake.

The interaction did not go the way I wanted. When I asked her to introduce me to her new boyfriend her face turned cold.

“Not until you introduce me to your not so new girl friend. Oh wait, I already know her.” she shot an evil glare at me, looking like she was trying not to cry.

“What are you talking about?” I asked genuinely confused.

“Oh don’t give me that shit. You have been sleeping with my friend for the last 6 months.” her eyes turning colder.

None of this made any sense. “Nora? This is insane. I don’t know what you are talking about.” I wracked my brain. “I never slept with Allie, I never even looked at her in that way or had a private conversation with her.”

“You are nothing but a spineless piece of shit.” she spit out between clinched teeth as she turned grabbed her new boyfriend and stormed out of the bar. Not before yelling to the bartender that I had the tab for her table as well.

“Lying bitches get stitches, you know that?” I muttered under my breath knowing she didn’t actually hear anything.

Nora

“Hey! It’s me. I got this figured out. I will get Derick down to your complex tonight and I will drop your journal near by. I will text you to call the cops when I am about five minutes away. You tell the cops you saw him looking in your window. I will make sure I stall him and drop the journal nearby in case he gets away. It has his finger prints all over it. When I handed it to him I had gloves on and when I stole it back I did as well. We are covered. I also have text messages with Derick from tonight. He said he edited the video and it was just what it should be to prove you actually were attacked.” Abby, almost out of breath, finally quit talking.

“This is perfect Abby.” I couldn’t help but smile. Thinking of how our plan was coming together so well.

Two hours later I got the text that Abby was almost to the complex. I took out my phone to make the most important phone call of my life.

After making the call my mind drifted back to the years prior.

I knew something was off with Derick. The way he flirted non-stop would drive any sane woman to the edge. Derick may have been a flirt with everyone, but he did worship the ground that I walked on. It was cute at first, but not something I loved later. I needed some space. But that didn’t mean I didn’t love him. It would be better once the wedding happened. He would be married. He wouldn’t need to be so clingy.

I went and got my hair done and made my way to the church. I saw him peaking a glance at me from inside. Something he was specifically not to do. Couldn’t even wait a couple of hours to see me. Could I really let this happen?

That’s when it clicked. My best friend was my way out. Allie was one that Derick had an eye for. Maybe they didn’t talk, but I could tell there was something. After all I knew Derick. If I could make this happen, there would be no wedding, and I wouldn’t be the bad guy. Allie was the one who broke up the relationship, not me.

Things went just as planned. I told Allie that I needed her to go into the next room and grab a program, as I was having a panic moment something was spelled wrong. When Allie went into the room I snuck around the corner with my phone. I was hoping to get a shot of her looking at him or something. Instead I got something so much better. Allie grabbed Derick and they kissed. Yep, kissed right on the lips and I caught it all on camera. This was perfect, but slightly unexpected. The perfect out just created itself and I wasn’t going to fight it. The rest is history.

As soon as the last bridesmaid, groomsmen combo walked down the aisle, things got weird. I had given the keys to my SUV to Abby when I told her Derick was cheating and showed her the picture. I had originally planned on some editing, but that wasn’t needed. The college course I took on editing and the emerging AI wasn’t actually needed. Allie stepped it up and now the man I loved was not going to marry Abby.

Now three years later, AI, and editing were easy as pie and setting up this epic fall was going to work out in my favor once again.

“Hey Derick.” I said adding a little bit of flirtation to my voice.

“Nora.” he responded nodding his head.

“Hey, I know it’s been a while, but I wanted you to know I forgive you. I know it wasn’t your fault. I don’t know what happened that day, but I’d love if you and I could get together.

The hurt look on his face turned to a smile.

Derick

My phone began vibrating, scaring me just a little. I knew it was coming, but this was so nerve wracking. I have never had a speeding ticket, and now I was trying to frame someone for a crime they didn’t even commit.

“The cops are already here. Abby fell right into it. She called the number I gave her, no idea it was a set up from the cops.” a relieved voice came through the phone. I let out a breath, things were going smooth.

“Oh, thank God.” I said quietly. “Did you give them the video?”

“Sure did.” Nora responded with a smile I could hear through the phone.

After Abby left me at the alter, Nora also left. The whole day was a blur and I am still confused on how I got left twice in one day. But until a few months ago Nora or Abby hadn’t even talked to me. Nora and I ran into each other at the store and the rest is history. The sparks started to fly again and we started seeing each other everyday. It turns out Abby never really got over that day and started to question Nora about a possible relationship. Once I started to come back around Abby really started asking questions. That’s why we set her up. Seemed a bit extreme, but that is Nora, very extreme.

We wanted Abby to think I was interested in reconciling and rekindling the romance. I came clean about the relationship with Nora, but told Abby it was all Nora. I was the victim. With her growing frustration with Nora, Abby fell for it. This opened up the window for Nora and I to make it look like Abby was just a jealous friend and wanted to get back at her friend and ex for dating. We could get Abby sent off to jail. Pay back for leaving me at the alter, and get her out of the picture for good so Nora and I could be a couple in peace.

What really helped was Abby was really into AI and editing. She had all the equipment to work with and was always eager to share. What she didn’t know is Nora learns fast and only needs shown one time. She was able to sneak into her apartment and get just what she needed. Probably while Abby was off grabbing the journal she thought she was so clever with. Texting me to set me up, but in the end the text read just how I wanted it to. To look like she did the editing. She really wasn’t as smart as she thought.

“I will catch you tomorrow, babe” I said knowing that I shouldn’t stay on the call with her very long. I didn’t want anything to seem suspicious. It wouldn’t be long until it was just Nora and I. Just the way it was meant to be.