#ChillingChronicles

[chillingchronicles]

The Bridge Of Sorrows

Chapter 4 Dearly Departed

I woke up around 8:00 a.m., the empty walls of my room staring back at me. The dread of what I had to do settled in—I’d have to tell Dorris’s mom what happened. Flashes of Dorris’s face as she fell over the bridge haunted me as I got ready, my guilt growing heavier with every step.

On the kitchen counter, I found a note:

“Vanessa, you left your car on and your keys in the ignition, so the battery died. I had a mechanic come pick it up. You can borrow my car. I got a ride from Sarah next door. Have a good day at work. I’ll call you when I get a chance.”

The drive to Mrs. Delagarza’s house was filled with childhood memories of Dorris and me, but they only tightened the knot in my chest. As I pulled into the driveway, my hands trembled slightly. I knocked on the door, bracing myself.

“Hey, Vanessa, how are you?” Mrs. Delagarza greeted me warmly.

“I... I need to tell you something,” I stammered. “Something bad happened yesterday.”

“Okay…” she said, concern knitting her brow.

“Dorris and I went to a bridge... to find out if Mr. Johnson was having an affair. This guy told us we could get answers if we offered something meaningful. Dorris tried to take off my shoe, but she... she fell over the edge. Mrs. Delagarza, I’m so sorry. Dorris is dead.”

There was a long pause before she responded, her voice calm, almost too calm. “Vanessa, who is Dorris? I don’t have a daughter named Dorris.”

“What? No, Mrs. Delagarza, you do. Dorris! You have pictures of her everywhere in the living room!”

She looked at me with concern. “Vanessa, there are no pictures of Dorris. Are you feeling okay?”

“Can I get a glass of water, please?”

“Sure, come on in.”

I walked into the house, heart pounding, and looked around. The walls were bare—no trace of Dorris anywhere. My stomach dropped.

“Vanessa, as you can see, there aren’t any photos of this Dorris person you speak of.”

“I see that now…”

“Well, I’m heading out for the weekend with a friend. Take care, okay?”

“Sorry to bother you, Mrs. Delagarza. I’ll be on my way now.”

“Drive safe, Vanessa.”

[aimarskloset]

Ghostly Gazette #1