Manslaughter

By Devika Hardikar

Mayfair Willow, now Mrs. Welte and her husband, Benjamin Welte were not the ‘ideal’ couple though any bystander’s eyes. Their demeanour always seemed off. As if the two of them had never wanted a relationship in the first place. However, their love for each other was pure, and yet their screams echoed loud and clear through the 12 story apartment building in London. One might argue that their screams were just a regular occurrence between couples, though the strangled sounds suggested otherwise. 

Mayfair’s eyes glowed red as she reached for her phone and began vigorously pressing the smooth screen. She was livid, and for good reason. Her husband had just called her something quite provocative. It was quite easy to assume that Mayfair had snapped. With a blank expression, she walked into her newborn’s nursery. Her sharp steps came as a surprise to Benjamin who was already in the room with their son. He knew he had crossed a line. As Mayfair walked into the room, her icy blue eyes met his brown ones. The guilt was practically radiatinging off of him. 

“I’m so sorry hun, you know I didn’t mean what I said and-” 

“Stop talking.” She cut him off. “I know you’re sorry, I just need to make sure that it doesn’t happen again.” Mayfair’s slender pale fingers wrapped around her son’s musical mobile. The movement caused the mobile to play a tune. She unhooked it and approached Benjamin. His eyes grew wide and his skin turned pale. The fear had just begun to set in when suddenly the cord was enclosed over his neck. Mayfair kept tightening and grinning as Benjamin continued to choke and gasp for air, his face turning blue. His body fell with a thud and all the commotion ceased. 

A small wail was heard which caused Mayfair to turn around. She saw her son crying. Swiftly she moved towards him and gently began to cradle and shush him. 

“It’s okay, mommy’s here.”

By Devika Hardikar