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Fresh blood warmed the cold concrete floor. Raindrops mixed with dust fell along the cracks in the roof, echoing through the warehouse.
The cold wind whistled in through the broken windows, yet lying on the ground, she no longer felt the cold. Instead, she felt relief.
Isobel is a person who is sensitive to sound. The lightness and weight of each person's steps were distinctive, like different drumbeats. She remembered the sound of those she knew walking, especially his.
“ I...am sorry... ” the words were accompanied by blood, straining to get out of her mouth. How could she have predicted that DOI had launched an investigation into him due to this suspension, and that Joe had provided compelling evidence of Jubal's alcoholism on several cases that year, taking this unpaid suspension from short-term to indefinite.
———
She still remembered the crisp sound of the crystal picture frame being pulled off the wall and colliding with the pine floor, immediately followed by the deafening sound of the door slamming that had made the floor vibrate, leaving her barely able to breathe. She shuffled her steps and picked up the crumpled photo, salty tears sliding down her face, blurring the smiles of the couple in the photo. How could she have imagined that the fork in the road of the two choices would lead to the same end?
The countless times of "you didn't do anything wrong" comforting words slipped past her ears, leaving no trace behind, but what she couldn't take away was her growing heavy sense of guilt. Though he later apologized to her and begged her to hold on to this relationship. Even though she had seen the end of the relationship, the guilt inside her forced Isobel to nod her head in mute agreement. But she knew that in his mind, she was the one he had always blamed. The one he once loved made him lose his job, his family, and everything and everyone he cared about.
The little tree of love sprouts in the daily interaction, growing branches and leaves with passion. After naive green fades, the storms makes it filled with the constant support and companionship. Although living in the same room, the communication got shorter and shorter, speechlessness grew longer and longer, putting the rustling sound of the yellow leaves of the almost withered tree of love falling to the ground in the quiet home. They were in the same room, but they were gradually drifting apart.
———
Jubal kept silent and squatted down, scanning her with such an icy gaze, as if she were a criminal awaiting to be executed , even though he had already pulled the triggers. The crisp sounds the shell hitting were as precise as a timer, followed her whimper of pain. He wanted to watch her slowly suffer from the pain, experiencing the agony of losing everything he had step by step, and walked towards the end of her life.
He would do anything for her, even if it might be against the law; and she could have turned a blind eye but she was unwilling to do this little thing for him, which made his years of hard work go to waste . With mixed feelings, he broke his vow that night, drank triple shots of tequila at the bar, and roared back to their apartment, leaving angrily with her sobbing.
———
Jubal tried to convince himself that it wasn't her fault, but the idea that “ it wasn't her fault ” wore off under the charm of alcohol again and again, replaced by growing anger and hatred.
You know I'd do anything for you, and this is you do to me.
She could always read the emotions and thoughts in his eyes, and he knew it.
———
The past fragments played in front of her eyes like a film clip, different from the walk-throughs she'd seen when she'd been out in the field twenty years ago. In addition to the memories of embracing her mother, the joy of her first day at Fed 26, Dana's encouragement and guidance, there was also him.
The early morning rooftop with satellite surveillance dad jokes.
At sunset His embraced of her in tears, the breeze blowing through revealing a light golden light.
Under the moonlight the first silky kiss like chocolate.
During the night the passionate kiss and lingering.
The silver wedding ring jingled in bubbling champagne glass, tears of joy sliding down her face.
Her world was finally quiet, and all was still.
Before her amber eyes finally dimmed, a tear scratched from the corner of her eye.
The cacophony of sirens were getting closer and closer, as if thousand armies were rushing towards him, yet he didn't move at all.
He just stood there, looking into her eyes.
He could always read her thoughts.
She'd expected this day coming, from the moment he'd gone against the grain and offered to invite Isobel to celebrate their anniversary. She'd longed for Jubal to free her from the guilt that had nearly engulfed her.
Now, she had got it.
And his world had also got quiet.
———
Jubal put up no resistance as he was yanked up, when the cold silver handcuffs made a click; he was impassive as the agents stopping the JOC agents shouted angrily while trying to rush at him. He confessed, saying that he’s guilty. Those who knew him thought he was insane; he was practically committing chronic suicide. When he was told that Isobel had been buried, something flashed in his eyes, and then disappeared.
During the days when no one visited him in prison, his daily hour of release time was used only for pacing slowly, listening to his own footsteps; paying attention to the sound of the leaves blowing in the breeze; and watching the sun through the iron bars.
The former federal agent entered the federal prison was like a sheep thrown into a pack of wolves. For every vicious attack, he didn't fight back, he just felt the pain, the pain she had endured. He was paying for his sins, the sins he had committed against himself and the people he loved.
Six months later, he was stabbed to death with a sharpened toothbrush by a bribed prisoner. It was said that before he died, his vision was hazy, largely fuzzy with consciousness, but the corners of his mouth rose slightly, as if he had been relieved.
His world was also finally quiet, and all was still, eventually.