It was simple–they loyed her more.
She had become the center of their world, the one they protected, no matter what.
They replayed the video again and again, almost obsessively, terrified they might have missed something–anything–that could prove Elsa innocent.
They wanted so badly for it not to be true.
But after a long, suffocating silence, they finally looked at each other–really looked–as if the truth had struck them both at the same time like a bolt of lightning.
Panic.
They began to mind–link me, again and again, desperate now.
But of course, there was no response.
None at all.
And just then, the phone rang.
It was the gravekeeper.
“Hello, is this Jenifer’s family?”
The voice on the other end of the line was calm, too calm.
“I’m calling to confirm–should her ashes be scattered into the sea, as she wished?”