Chapter 7: It is my fault!

When William went missing the other evening, I thought he went back to the house. When he wasn't there, I began to panic. I remember holding torches and searching for any sign of William throughout the night. Father had a look of anguish on his face the next morning when he told me to not go into the room. I knew that he was he was trying to hide something in that room. Upon entering, I immediately fainted at the sight of the boy's corpse. William has been murdered and it’s my entire fault! He had begged me earlier that same night for mother’s picture. It was this picture that had attracted the murderer. Words cannot describe the amount of guilt that overpowered me. Mother's picture will now forever haunt me. Picturing it now makes my heart drop and my stomach twist and turn. I couldn’t stop myself from weeping knowing that I am to blame for the death of young and innocent William. Tears raced down my face for several days. I was in a state of deep depression and anguish. My poor cousin Justine is accused of William’s murder because the picture was found in her possession. But I know for a fact that she is innocent. Victor, too, believes in Justine's innocence. Thank goodness for his return. He is perhaps the only person in this world who could provide comfort to my suffering. Victor's presence fills me with hope during this time of unhappiness and misfortune brought upon us.

Elizabeth Lavenza