The Perfect Lucie

A shadow passed by her..now, she was marked.

Before today, my life was filled with simple joys. The laughter of children in my classroom. The comfort of a home shared with a man whose dreams mirrored my own. The safety of routine, predictable and unthreatening.

As I dial 911, my voice is calm. But inside, I'm unraveling.

I've never seen a dead body until today.

My hands shake as I clutch my phone, a cold sweat clinging to my skin.

I've never feared the dark corners of my city until today.

But how could I ignore her, lifeless and discarded like a forgotten doll in that grim alley?

And what will happen now that I've seen what no one was meant to see?