The Last Word

By R.W. Pender

Two years ago, psychotherapist Ellie Milligan lost her husband and son to a serial killer. Now, the police seem to think she's in danger. There's the 'normal' response, and then there's the response of someone racked by anger and grief.

 

(This is a 7,400-word short story.)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Verbal Ceviche
• Release date: Jul 16, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215628584

Book preview

The Last Word

R.W. Pender

Published by Verbal Ceviche, 2023.

This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

THE LAST WORD

First edition. July 16, 2023.

Copyright © 2023 R.W. Pender.

Written by R.W. Pender.

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

The Last Word

Also By R.W. Pender

The Last Word

It’s not that you want to die, Sean, Ellie Milligan said into her cellphone, being careful that her tone carried understanding, not dismissal. "You want the pain to end, not your life. When he failed to respond, she continued, We can make the pain stop. We will make the pain stop."

We’ve tried! he yelled.

Then, we need to try harder. Put the razor away. Just put it away and tell yourself ‘not today,’ just ‘not today,’ and then be at my office tomorrow morning at 8:00.

Heavy silence ensued yet, she hadn’t expected an effortless surrender. The young man had been in the inflexible clenches of depression for well over a year. Going from suicidal to settling for a future counseling session wasn’t a simple thing.

A long moment later, she called his name, and after he grunted an acknowledgement, she said, Please. Just put the razor away. It’ll all be over soon. I promise.

Forcefully, he exhaled. Yeah. Whatever.

My office, 8:00, she sternly repeated. Now, it’s very late. Try to get some sleep.

Again, he grunted and promptly disconnected.

For Ellie, Sean’s appointment neared too swiftly.

Frazzled by lack of sleep, she downed the last swallow of her drive-thru coffee as she hurried up the walkway to Widman Counseling Center. The door hadn’t even closed behind her before she said to the receptionist, Colleen, I need to reschedule the 8:00 staff meeting. Sean Barlow’s coming in for an emergency appointment.

You got it, Colleen responded in her usual friendly tone. Reschedule to when, exactly?

Tossing her paper cup into the nearby trash can, she replied, Why don’t you see whether everyone’s willing to give up their lunch hour?

Pizza’s always a good incentive.

Returning Colleen’s smile, she said, "As acting director, I say raid