She took a deep breath. I almost expected her to take another step forward but she didn’t. Instead she kept on going.

“She had found a doctor who could do the tests just using hair samples. I knew the easiest way for her to get those was by taking our brushes, so the next time I saw Melissa I swapped hair brushes. I gave her some sob story about finding it romantic that we were using each other’s brushes. It helped that our hair colour was similar.”

“So you’re really Paula’s daughter” I looked down, avoiding eye contact, rather focusing my attention on the gun and how easy it would be to grab it out of her hand. I was ashamed, too ashamed to do anything but stand there.

“The accident that killed Melissa really was an accident. The brakes on Melissa’s car failed, there was no tampering with it or anything. She was always having problems with her brakes. I was forever telling her to have it checked out, she was always promising she would. Guess she never got round to it. My mother changed after she died. She became so much colder. I was going to tell her I swapped the brushes, but the way she was mourning, the way she was being so cold towards me… I didn’t care anymore; I withdrew from her. I stopped loving her because she was my mother; I loved her simply because I had to. It was expected of me.”

I could feel the cold shivers running down my spine. Spencer was crying. I wanted to comfort her, but with the gun pointing at me I wasn’t so sure if that was a good idea.

I moved to take the gun from her but she jerked her hand back, stepping away from me.

“Tell me about the other phone call.” She was sniffing, I could barely make out what she was saying.

“I don’t think I should Spencer, let’s just go back to the hotel. Forget today even happened.”

“Tell me.” I could hear the hammer click. I was going to die anyway, by my own hand. I didn’t know if having Spencer kill me was going to be any better.

“Fine, it was the agency. They want us both dead. They want me to kill you, then kill myself.”

“You mean all this running was for nothing? Were you going to tell me?” I could tell she was angry, angrier than when she thought I believed everything Paula had told me. This wasn’t good.

“I’m sorry.” I couldn’t look at her.

“You kept me away from my father, from my brothers, for nothing. Was this some sick joke to you?”

“It’s not like that.”

“Fuck you Ashley.” She fired the gun and I fell down.

Present

My entire body was hurting; I kept my eyes on Spencer. I could feel my clothes becoming soaked in blood. I was expecting her to bend down and help me, but my luck had run out. She no longer cared about me. I was a victim of love, yes, but I was also a victim of my own stupidity – a stupid fool who didn’t think I was worthy of Spencer’s love. Instead I chose to believe her mother simply because it was easier. I blinked a few times, my ears ringing as a second shot was fired and the only light I’d ever known turned to darkness.