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“ Have you seen this ?” my sister asks , slapping a newspaper down in front of me . I pick it up , scanning the front page .
Woman found dead in Caraway Park
Twenty-six-year-old Janine Michaels was found stabbed to death in the bushes of Caraway Park . Michaels ’ death marks the seventh killing in three months — all young women , all found in Thurston County parks with multiple stab wounds .
Of course , all the dead girls have been pretty . I trace her jawline with my right index finger . Her soft , delicate jawline . My left hand tiptoes along my own jawbone . It ’ s hard , rough , almost a perfect right angle . Anything but feminine . My fingernail begins to scrape through the flimsy paper , creating a gash directly beneath her blossom lips .
“ You can ’ t go out tonight ,” my sister warns , gesturing towards the paper .
“ There ’ s no way I ’ m cancelling . We both know I need to branch out .” I pout my lips out in order to smear a blood-red stain across my lower lip . Tossing a small piece of hair over my ear , I give my reflection one final look . Not bad .
“ You look beautiful , Elizabeth ,” my sister says . “ Promise you ’ ll be careful tonight ?”
The Date Ailish Collins
“ I ’ m always careful .”
“ Here , take this with you ,” she hands me a small bottle of pepper spray , disguised as perfume .
“ I won ’ t need this ,” I reply , passing it back . Wordlessly , she presses the bottle back into my hand . Her eyes glower into my own , screaming at me to protect myself from the unknown . At the cue of the doorbell I slip the bottle into my purse .
“ Fine .” I roll my eyes , “ but it ’ s not going to get any use .”
I turn in my chair , angling my feet so as to pinch them into my shoes . The heels are a little too tall , and the point too thin . The tenfoot journey to the door is torture on my feet . I grimace , but continue walking . I need to be beautiful . The pain will be worth it .
“ Liz !” He opens his arms to me , swooping in for a hug . My hands shoot up as a barrier .
“ It ’ s Elizabeth .” My eyes are fixated on the doormat .
“ Shall we ?” he says , yanking my attention back to him . He gestures to the door .
My eyes refuse to leave his face as we walk to the restaurant . He has neglected to shave for the past few days , but the irresponsibility suits his boyish face — makes him more of a man .
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