Chapter 7 - The Dramatic Version
Years later, people still told the dramatic version.
The wealthy backyard graduation party.
The golden-hour light.
The photographer arranging the family.
Lauren pointing toward a wooden chair.
Get out of the chair. You’re ruining the picture.
Emily saying, Take your hands off my wheelchair.
Lauren gripping the handles.
The hard pull.
The forceful shove.
The caster striking the raised patio seam.
Emily thrown forward onto one palm.
Champagne glasses crashing.
Wine spreading across the stone.
Lauren standing over the chair.
Then stay out of my way.
Emily reaching for the black phone.
You pushed me at the lake too.
The distorted recording beginning.
Lauren, stop—she’s too close to the edge…
Julia Morales stepping from the crowd with the legal folder.
Don’t turn that off.
May you like
It sounded like revenge.
And yes, part of it was.
