Page 89 of Dead to Me

“Hey, Auntie.”

“Hey, baby. Are you at home?”

I looked around the bathroom.

Home.

“I am.”

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m having a good day.”

“I’m glad.”

She paused. I knew that pause now. People always did it before they brought up Milan.

“I saw something online.”

I leaned against the counter.

“What?”

“They're saying the district attorney might officially clear Milan.”

For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.

“What?”

“They found more records from Warren. Apparently, there were problems with her original case.”

I closed my eyes. Now they were finding problems. I almost laughed.

Aunt Renee continued.

“They are saying Malcolm might have been responsible for that man’s death all along.”

“Jeremy.”

“Yes.”

I opened my eyes and looked at myself. Milan Hart. Innocent. The world finally realized it, but only after she was gone.

“How do you feel about that?” Aunt Renee asked.

I looked out the bathroom window at my land, my pool, my new life.

“I don’t know.”

“That’s understandable.”

“I spent so long thinking she did it.”

“I know.”

Another lie. China always knew. I touched the necklace.

Aunt Renee sighed.