The Wicked Mrs. Gastrell (English version)

Flashback

I was just feeling nothing as I stared at the imprisoned Elizabeth. I just finished picking up my son from the funeral home and now he is staying in our little house. I left him with Kristine when the police called me to say that I had to go to the precinct to give my statement about the incident. I will also file a case against her.

My tears started to flow again remembering my bitter and painful situation now. Everything is like a nightmare again. For the third time, fate is not on my side again. I lost the one I love the most but it’s not like before. It’s much more painful and heart-wrenching now that I just cried in the corner and accepted everything. But now it is different. I am determined to fight this time.

I have nothing to lose. They already took everything from me. There’s nothing left in me but anger so instead of just whining on the sidelines and muttering, I’ll make sure I will fight now even if I run out of breath so I will see my son with a high morale and he will be proud of me that I fought for his justice in my own little way.

I didn’t care about my wounds and stood up awkwardly towards the woman who was sitting behind the railing and staring into nothingness. I rattled the iron and reached for Elizabeth’s hair.

“You’re a murderer! You killed my son, you shameless woman! Why did you do that?! Why?! He’s the only one left with me! He’s the only one! My son is the only reason I’m breathing! What did I do to you for you to do this to me? I didn’t do anything to you and your family! Why are you doing this to me?! Isn’t it enough for you that your brother killed my father and brother?! Why kill my son?! Why?!”

I didn’t stop pulling her hair even though she was screaming in pain and there were policemen pulling me away.

“You’re a monster, Elizabeth Asturia! You’re a killer! Your entire family are murderers! Bring back my son! Bring back Errol!” I continued to shout like a lunatic.

My vision is blurry because of the tears and my wounds have been aching for a while now but nothing can compare to the kind of pain I am feeling inside. It’s like I’ve been torn over and over. It’s like they insulted me and drove me away. It’s like they also killed my soul.

No! I won’t stop now until she dies too like how my son died!

“Policarpio! Honasan! Keep that girl away from Ms. Asturia!” ordered a man just coming from behind me.

The policeman next to me twisted my hand so I let go of Elizabeth’s hair then they dragged me away. The person who spoke came to his cell with a bunch of keys and opened it to my dismay.

“Why are you opening that?! Put that murderous woman back inside! She killed my son! She killed Errol! She killed my son! You’re a beast! You’re a beast Elizabeth!” I continued to struggle with the two policemen’s tight grip on me but they didn’t let me go.

“Ma’am Elizabeth, I’m sorry for what we did last time. We just made a mistake with the person we got. I hope it doesn’t reach your father and mother. I’m begging you,” I heard the chief who was now supporting Elizabeth out of the cell.

The woman did not answer. Her eyes were wild as she looked at the exit, avoiding my gaze. When she nodded, the policeman breathed a sigh of relief.

“Escort Ms. Asturia out. The person who will pick her up is already at the entrance.”

A few policemen followed and carefully took Elizabeth. It’s a pity that I’m just looking at them.

“Why are you letting her escape?! She’s a murderer! She killed my son! What kind of police are you?! Why are you letting that criminal escape?!”

Nobody listened to me. When Elizabeth finally got out, those who were holding me let go of me and went back to their respective jobs as if nothing had happened. I ran to the chief’s desk. I wiped my tears before speaking.

“What happened? Why did you let the culprit get away? She’s the one who ran after us! She’s the reason my son died!”

He just sighed before putting on his glasses and handling the papers on the table as if he was talking to no one, as if my case was unimportant.

“The person we got was wrong. It wasn’t Ms. Asturia who ran over you,” he responded calmly.

“What? What are you saying?! I could clearly see her face when she got out of her car after she hit me and my son who is now dead in our house! He’s the only one I have. I don’t have a mother, father, and brother. My son is the only one I have, a police officer. He’s the only one left of me.” I wiped the tears again and moved to his seat and knelt down. “Please, give justice to my son’s death. I-I can’t continue in this life if I know the suspect hasn’t paid yet. Please.”

The chief just shook his head before facing me. “Miss, you don’t know who you’re bumping into here. We’re just nothing compared to her family. One order from the and I’ll be removed from my post right now. It’s a good thing that I asked their family members for mercy and they let me go. I promised never to let this happen anymore. Also, it’s not just one family you’ll bump into just in case. Mayor Gastrell called me herself to get ma’am out. I couldn’t help it. I owe a lot to Madam Teodora .”

I was stunned to hear the name he mentioned.

“Madam Teodora ordered you to release Elizabeth?” I whispered in the void.

“Yes, it’s Madam Teodora Gastrell.”

I closed my eyes and completely sat on the floor. I was fighting the surge of an emotion I couldn’t name.

“Does she know who Elizabeth’s victims are? Did she even ask who we are? Did she find out our names? Did she know about Errol?”

The chief nodded. “Madam knows everything.”

My tears fell again. “All? Does she also know that her own grandson just got killed and died? Does she know that she sided with the killer of her grandson more than her own blood and flesh?”

The man was startled by what he heard but did not answer. I sighed and stood up while looking blankly in his eyes. He still hasn’t said anything.

“If you have the courage to tell Madam the truth, please tell her that her son looks just like my son Errol.” I sniffed and wiped away the tears with the hem of the t-shirt I was wearing. “Please tell her that Errol got his eyes from his own grandmother. My son didn’t get anything from me but that’s okay. He gave me so much pleasure in the short time that we were together. A-And finally… please tell madam to tell her son to visit my son’s grave… because I may not be able to do that anymore. Thank you.”Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

I turned around and with quick steps, left that place back to our little house where my son was waiting for me.

Errol son, mama will never leave you alone.