Ave Maria

Prison Nine days later I was isolated in my cell, wearing the same clothes from the night of the slaughter. I lay prostrate in a corner, humming a song. I was thrown in jail, awaiting my fate for killing Patrick.

A prison guard entered the cell.

"Your clothes and violin for the funerals."

He set down a suit and my violin on the bed and locked the cell door behind him. I disregarded him as if he were nothing and continued to hum my grief. Sadness was tearing my heart apart. I was haunted by death, and abandoned by happiness. I didn't merit living.

Losing my mother and brother in such a tearful way was enough to bury my soul. Life was meaningless and death was wrong. My only friend was fear, and my enemy was love.

Living Room Peggy sat on the couch in front of the television. Her face was sorrowful. The door opened behind her and her father came in from work, carrying a briefcase.

"How are you, sweetie?"

"Hi," she answered swiftly.

"How was school today?"

"I haven't been going to school for a while now."

"What? Why?"

"Just because, that's all."

"That's not an answer, and look at me when I'm talking to you."

Peggy ignored him and kept watching television. Claudia walked down the steps and approached Peggy.

"'Cause she's pregnant," Claudia replied.

Peter grabbed Peggy by the shoulders. "What? You are pregnant by that Negro, murderer- "