Page 79 of Little Twisted Things

“You’re very observant. The name is Dahlia.” I smiled. “I’d shake your hand, but⁠—”

Her brows furrowed. “Dahlia? How⁠—”

“Katherine didn’t want to leave the cottage. She’s happy there with her husband. Oh, and she’s having a baby. Everything that happened was my fault and my fault alone. So, I’m doing what I do best. Protecting Kathrine.”

“We have to go, Detective Walker,” one of the guards said.

“Yeah, sure. Would it be okay if I visited you sometime at Bellevue?” she asked me.

“Sure.” I smiled. “Have a good day, Detective.”

Dr. Bondi was kind enough to buy me a box of hair color so I could return to my blonde locks. Something I desperately missed. Now that this was my life, I needed to look like me and not Katherine. I reintroduced myself to the other patients as Dahlia. No one even gave it a second thought. They just smiled and welcomed me. I wasn’t surprised. All our minds were fractured in this place.

I was placed in a new room. A slightly bigger room. The one I stayed in for weeks prior to the trial was temporary. It’s what they called that specific hallway of rooms. They were more for seventy-two-hour holds up to a month. But because of the length of the trial, they kept me there until the final sentencing.

A twin bed. A wardrobe. A small window high up that let the sun shine through. A desk. A lamp. And a small table with one chair. And the best part. It had its own bathroom complete with a shower, a toilet, a sink, and a mirror. Definitely an upgrade. No more banging on the door in the middle of the night when I needed to use the bathroom.

I went into the bathroom and splashed some cold water on my face. As I patted it dry with a towel, I stared at myself in the mirror and smiled at my new hair color.

“It looks good, Dahlia.”

“Thanks, Sydney.”

“Can you ask Dr. Bondi for some paint supplies and an easel?”

“Only if you promise to paint me beautiful paintings to hang on the walls.” I smiled.

“I will. I promise.”

“Then I will ask her.”

“Are you going to be okay in here?” she asked.

“Yes. I’ll be fine.”

Then, she disappeared. I heard the lock click and the door open. Walking out of the bathroom, George was standing there.

“It’s dinner time, Dahlia.”

“Oh good. I can’t wait to get my hands on some of that chocolate pudding.” I smirked.

“I think today it’s tapioca.”

“Ugh. Really?” I cocked my head.

“Maybe I can try to find some chocolate and sneak it in here.”

“You’re too good to me, George.”

Three Months Later

A soft knock on my door echoed through the room.

“Dahlia?” Dr. Bondi slowly pushed the door open. “May I come in?”

I looked up from the book I was reading. “Sure.”

“I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d drop by.” She smiled.