The Easiest Confession

Who is it?

Hello? Alex? Its Hilda calling. You didn’t show up for last Thursday’s meeting, so I was just, y’know, calling to see if you were going to show up today.

No, I didn’t plan on it.

Oh! Oh. Okay, well, if you can’t make it in person, do you-

You’re going to ask if we can talk over the phone?…Yeah that’s fine. I don’t care. If you wanna talk that badly-

I don’t mean to pressure you! You don’t have to say anything you don’t want to, I’ll understand. Since we’re over the phone, I get it if you don’t want to say certain things. Just, y’know, tell me however much you want-

No, its…its fine I’m just…I’m just not that kind of guy. Ask whatever you want.

Uh, okay, can you, y’know, start from, like, the beginning? Or is that…

From when I first met them? You want that much?

No, no! I mean, y’know, like, the day it happened, like, like when you first showed up at their house! Start from there!

Sure. So when I pulled up at the house I parked right behind their car since they hadn’t left yet. I got out of my car while Kathy stood at the passenger’s side of her vehicle, smiling at me. Jonathan was bent down next to her, talking to their 4-year old daughter. The girl shouted my name, and her Jon stood up to address me. I apologized for being a bit late, but Kathy told me not to worry about it. Jon tried telling me that it was cool out so it was okay if his daughter played outside for a bit. I didn’t care either way, so I said "sure". They said a few parting words to the girl, got in their car and left.

Do you…remember the name of their daughter?

No, I don’t, but I was never very good at remembering names. I only knew Kathy and Jon because we went to the same high school.

So, they both leave. What do you do next?

I took the girl’s hand and led her into the house. Once we got in, I let go of her and she ran off to do whatever it is 4-year olds do in their spare time.

And what was the time?

Around 6:30, give or take a few minutes. It was already starting to get dark, dark enough to let the girl play in the backyard.

So, did you you let her go outside, or…?

No. It was still too hot for me. She tried to get me to go outside with her but I didn’t really feel like it. Not that day.

Why didn’t you?

Don’t know. I’d made up my mind to go babysit, do what I had to do, and get back home without any problems. But I was just feeling under the weather. Couldn’t tell you why. Didn’t even eat. I mostly sat in the living room reading To Kill A Mockingbird while the girl played with a rubber ball outside.

So you let her out anyway? When did she come back in?

Don’t know; I fell asleep reading. She came in at some point; can’t tell you exactly when. I just know that, at about 7:45, she woke me up by tugging at my sleeve. I asked her what was wrong, and she told me that she had to go use the toilet.

So, what did you have to do in that situation?

It wasn’t complicated. I just had to place her on the toilet and then step out; she could handle the rest, somewhat. Sometimes she slipped in or left a pile of toilet paper on the floor, but mostly there weren’t any problems. Her set up a small set of steps near the sink so she could wash her hands.

So she used the bathroom, then what?

It was 8:00 and I had to be leaving soon, before her parents got back home, so I called someone and told them to come to the house.

Did…did you already have it in your pocket?

I’d had it since I’d gotten out of my car, but I had been checking to see if it was still there the whole time. It would’ve been for nothing if I didn’t have it.

And you never removed it from your coat pocket?

No. Not until I actually used it.

So, after you called for a replacement, what did you do?

I decided to take her to bed before my replacement showed up. She slept in the same room and bed as her parents. It was a large bed with three pillows and the small pillow in the center was where the she slept, I guess. The room was dim, even with the lights on. I guess they didn't want it being too bright, or something. She ran to the right side of the bed and waited for me.

And… that’s when you…?

Yeah. I walked up to her and bent down, like I was about to pick her up. She was expecting me to, because she placed her hands on my shoulders like she was going to hold on to me. Had a big smile across her face. That’s when I finally took the gun out of my pocket. When I placed the muzzle beneath her chin, she stopped smiling and widened her eyes. She stared at me, in a sort of confused look, clearly not understanding what was about to happen. And that’s when I pulled the trigger. I didn’t flinch, I didn’t even blink. I remember her body made a strange thud as it hit the floor. I dropped my gun on the floor as well since it was also covered in blood.

So…um…d-did you, y’know…

You alright? You’re still there, aren’t you?

Yeah, yeah, I’m good. So, y’know, then what? Did you leave? Or…

No, actually. After I wiped the blood off of my face, I helped myself to some food. I was finally able to eat, and so I did. It was only shortly after I’d finished eating that my replacement came knocking on the door. When I answered it, I told him “goodnight”, got in my car and left. I did what I came to do, and drove home without any problems.

*Sniff* Ahem, well then, okay… I-I guess we’re, uh, I guess we’re finished for today.

I guess we are.