The events of that unfaithful day played like a broken record every second of her life. Haunting her, never letting her have a moment of ease. It wouldn’t be just the nightmares that plague her but everything in Elta’s day-in-day-out life. Every corner she’d turned, every noise she’d heard – every little scene that would play out before her, it would unfold a never endless set of memories she wished she could just make disappear. If only Elta had told him the truth, maybe none of what came after would’ve happened. Maybe Mal would’ve understood, or maybe he wouldn’t have – but Elta felt that had circumstances been any different, today she’d have her daughter with her and her husband as well.

Nothing but regrets plagued the woman and there was nothing she could do about it now but keep going. Even if taking a way out of this never-ending pain would be easier, Elta needed to keep going, for the memory of her husband and daughter.

Upon entering her home, Elta knew something was wrong. Though the front door of her residence had been locked, the inside of her place was different. As if someone had been there, as if someone else was still in the house. Her trail of thoughts now forgotten as she looked for the gun usually kept by the entrance. Though she despised using guns the woman needed to be prepare for anything, now she knew this. Careful not to make any more noises that she had already, the woman made her way into the living room area – much to her surprise it was empty. Soon she followed towards the kitchen – empty as well, and lastly towards her room. She was right alright, she wasn’t alone but who she saw there was not someone she expected to see – ever again. 

                                                                              “ M- - Mal…? ”

Despite her best choices, Elta found herself lowering her weapon. Frozen in place by the door of her room as she simply stared to who was – her husband? Elta had thought she’d seen him before all over the city, places where they would’ve frequented during those years he’d been alive. But the woman knew that was nothing but her own mind playing tricks on her. Pretending she saw him in a crowded room where she couldn’t quite pick him out of. But this, this was different. It was him, alone – in her house. Her house, because she’d left their own home at The Hive soon after his death. Not able to bare being all alone there, when he was no longer around.

Tears stained her cheeks, not even aware of them as she took one tentatively step towards him before stopping. It had been more than nineteen years since she saw him and every bone in her body screamed at Elta to run to him, hold him, hug him and never let him go. But this was wrong, he just couldn’t be here. Not when she had seen him died, specially how he’d died. So with all the willpower left in her, the woman wiped away the tears – raised her gun and pointed right at the man standing in front of her.