Prompt: Observe
“You have to know I would never harm you,” Marcus said.
“Setting fire to the house with me in it kind of belies that statement,” said Envy.
Twice he had tried to reach across the table to take her hand, and twice had been rebuffed, once by the guard, and once by Envy herself.
He didn’t look like a prisoner waiting for a trial date. He looked like he had just turned up from a round of golf: a little tanned, a little tired, wondering what was for lunch. In fact, an outsider who observed just the two of them, seated at a small, pine-veneered table, would have pegged Envy for the convict; her hair was tangled, she was pale and nervous, and there were dark circles under her eyes. She was still a little battered from the fall from the balcony. Never a famous beauty to begin with, Envy was not at her best.
“The smoke alarms should have warned you,” said Marcus. “Why didn’t they?”
“That will remain a mystery for the ages,” said Envy, “since they were destroyed in the conflagration.” She wore a white gold chain with a diamond-encrusted cross pendant. She was thinking of returning to the church.
“You saw how upset I was,” said Marcus.
“That I survived,” Envy said.
For the third time, Marcus tried to take her hand. This time she slapped it. She was surprised to see his face contort in something that looked like pain. Existential or physical? she wondered.
“When did you stop loving me?” Envy said at last.
Marcus fiddled with the little sign in its plastic casing, propped up on the table. No touching. it said. No item exchange. No food. No shouting. Visitors and/or residents can and will be removed at any time at the guards’ discretion. No smoking.
Marcus looked out the window to an empty field, then back to Envy. “I never stopped loving you,” he said. “That’s why I asked you to come. I need your help.”
“Carmen got the police to describe you only as a ‘person of interest’,” Envy said.
“Carmen?”
“Your lawyer.”
“Ah.”
“That is the help I am giving you,” said Envy. “Take her advice. Tell the truth for once in your fucking life.” She stood up and leaned on her crutches. “And I’ll pray for you.”
“Jesus Christ,” said Marcus.
“Exactly,” said Envy.
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- Original Prompt: Burn, July 2, 2016
Fluffy Pool 