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The Mute Girl

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No one is innocent here.

When 22-year-old Brianna Moore is murdered at her own house, it gains a lot of attention in the otherwise peaceful town, Ashland of Oregon. As the investigation on Brianna's murder case continues on, some unwanted pieces from the past come to light, making everyone come into the direct radar of the law. Especially Erin Collins. A simple mute girl who just so happened to have a bitter history with Brianna. The people who knew Erin strongly believed in her innocence. But as the skeletons from her closet tumbled out, doubt started to creep up in the hearts of people. The original question remained: "Who killed Brianna?" However now, everyone had a new thought. What is the mute girl hiding?

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Erin
Monday, 05 March 2018 Morning The greatest lesson that a person can ever learn in their life is that we all are mere puppets at the hands of destiny. No matter how much we try to run away, we will always find ourselves back at the same place or in the vicinity of the exact same person/thing that we ran away from. You would think that you have finally gotten rid of the past for good, but if your destiny is not satisfied with your miseries yet, you would be back where you started from. Back to square one. Such is the tragedy of life. And the quicker we humans realize it, the better. I have always seen my life as something that is in my control, yet not really in my control. It sounds crazy, I know but if you ponder on those words, you will realize how right they are. You will think that your life is in your hands, completely under control and nothing in the whole damn world can change it, but that's when something happens. Something unexpected. Something that you had never planned. Something that changes your life. For better or for the worse. Your life starts unfolding in front of your eyes and you have no power to even move a leaf in your path. And then you realize that the life never really was in your control. It just was the destiny that had decided to give you a break. This is the bitter truth. The sad reality of life. "Erin!" The loud, gruff voice of my boss snapped me out of my day-dreaming and yanked me back into the reality. Startled, I jumped up, knocking my notepad on the ground. With sweaty hands and shaky legs, I rounded the table and was about to pick up my pad when my co-worker, Gavin came to rescue. Handing it to me, he gave me a soft smile and put a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Calm." I nodded and turned to our boss, who was throwing daggers in my direction. I instantly looked down at the ground in shame. "This is your last warning, Collins. If I see you lost in your bubble again, I will kick you out. Then dream all you want while sitting on the side of the road." "Chillax Jeffery," Gavin said, throwing an arm over my shoulder. "It's not like we have many people here. Sydney and I are managing just fine." That was not a lie. We really had not many customers today, considering it was a weekday. But Gavin being... well himself, he just has to pinpoint my mistakes every day. No matter how small they are. 'Oh, the perks of having an uptight boss,' I thought, scoffing mentally. "I don't pay you to fantasize, young lady. So you better gather your s**t before you have nothing better to do than to dream." I meekly nodded in reply. Satisfied by my state, Jeffery stormed away from us. It was only when he left that I released a breath of relief and shook my head. This is what I was talking about. I have the full control of my life, considering I have the right and the power to do whatever I want, whenever I want. But can I really? The answer is no. Because it doesn't matter what I'm able to do, what matters is what I can do. And I can't daydream while working. I looked up at Gavin and gave him a thankful smile. "Thanks for that," I signed. Gavin looked at my hands as if it was some alien thing. As if it were some exotic thing that he had never seen before. It's been three years of us working together, yet more often than not, he is unable to understand a word that I say... well, sign. "That was a bit too fast," he sheepishly said. I signed again, this time making sure that he could see and comprehend the movements of my hands. A look of realization crossed his featured and he shook his head. "No need, Rin Tin Tin. You know I will always be by your side." I threw my hands up in the air, getting frustrated by his nickname. Gavin has given me that God awful name since the day we met, back when I was in the senior year of my high school because apparently, Erin is a boring name. I will never understand how his brain works. Throwing a glare in his direction, I didn't even bother to sign to him to not call me by that name, for I have asked him a million times before but he never listens. I walked away from him and towards the tables to take orders. The look on his face was a clear indication that he enjoyed my irritated state. I heard Gavin's amused laugh behind me and although it should have annoyed me (and it did), I couldn't help the smile that formed on my face. That guy is the sweetest guy I have met in my whole life. He was the first person who approached me on my first day of work and since then, we two have become really close. Like really really close. Although the others who work here don't necessarily bully me, they are not nice to me either. I decided to approach the table where a young couple, who I am quite acquainted with, was sitting. Basically, most of the people who come here are regulars and so I recognize them and they also know me. If there is ever a new customer, Gavin or Sydney attend to them, saving me from any sort of embarrassing situation. The guy, whose name is Josh, is a bit older than the girl. I guess a year or two older. He is Abercrombie model type of handsome with his warm brown eyes, straight Roman nose, and heart-shaped lips. His tanned face is framed with luscious dark brown, curly hair, and he always has a slight stubble on his chin, giving him a rugged look. I can tell that he works out a lot because of the muscles that ripple beneath his shirt whenever he moves. His girlfriend (or fiancee), Amanda is also beautiful. She is a head shorter than him and has soft features to go with her sun-kissed skin. Her eyes are the mesmerizing color of green and her blonde hair, that she always put up in a ponytail, are long and silky. Amanda is overly talkative while Josh is the silent, brooding type of guy. They are a match made in heaven. Acknowledging me, Amanda gave me a broad smile. "How're you dear?" I nodded in reply and looked expectantly at them. Understanding my silent question, they gave me their orders. After I had jotted down everything, I smiled at them and went to the kitchen to take their orders. As I was about to walk into the kitchen, I looked back and saw Josh holding Amanda's hand over the table and whispering things to her that made her giggle. They looked happy. Asif they didn't have a worry about the world. Shaking my head, I made my way into the kitchen and wiped out every unnecessary and useless thought from my head. Evening The day was exhausting, like always. The muscles in my legs were screaming in protest and my back felt like someone had hit it multiple times with a baseball bat. But at least, my shift for the day was over. I slumped down in a chair that was previously occupied by an old man and put my head on the table. "Tired?" I looked up and saw Gavin standing over me. He grabbed a chair and sat in front of me, with his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. Gavin looked as exhausted as I was, if not more. He had dark circles under his eyes and his hair was tousled messily over his head. I could see the tired lines clear as day on his forehead and my heart dipped in my stomach when I realized that Gavin was overdoing himself. "Do you even sleep?" I signed to him, slowly. He gave me a tired smile and ruffled my hair playfully. "I'm fine, kid. Don't worry about me." I gave him a flat look. "You've got to do what you've got to do, Erin. I barely get to sleep, yes but it's all worth it. By the end of spring break, I'll have enough money to provide for my bills and save some for emergencies. And um... I'm actually thinking about going out of state, ya know?" I gaped at him. "What about college?" He mindlessly shrugged and played with his fingers. "I'll request for a migration." I instantly felt sadness falling over me. I had one genuine friend in the town and he was also leaving. Noticing the change in my mood, Gavin raked a hand through his hair and looked at me with a pleading look. "Mom needs me, Erin. She's alone." I nodded in understanding and we fell into a comfortable silence. There was a small part of me that still was disheartened by his confession. He can't go away and leave me like this. Alone. But then again, he has a life to live and I can't be selfish. I should be happy for the only genuine friend I have. I looked at the clock and grimaced. It was fifteen minutes past nine. Today was an absolute drag but I hadn't realized that so much time was spent here. But that shouldn't faze me. It's not like I have to anyone to go home to. Sighing sadly, I looked at Gavin to see him watching me silently. I gave him a questioning look but he just shook his head. "Let's go home. I'll drop you, okay?" Nodding, I stood up. Before I could take another step, Sydney burst out of the kitchen doors and ran in our direction. She stopped in front of us and panting, put her hands on her knees. Gavin and I shared concerned looks and looked back at her. "Sydney, is everything okay?" Gavin voiced my thoughts. "You look like you have seen a ghost." Once she had caught her breath, Sydney stood to her full height. Because of her heels, she had a good inch or two over me but was still shorter than Gavin. "You will never guess what I heard," she said in her high-pitched voice that always makes me internally cringe. It's like hearing the sound of chalk grating obnoxiously against a blackboard. "Skip the dramatic part, will you?" Gavin snapped at her. "Guys," she gulped in what I assumed was horror. "It's Brianna." My blood ran cold as soon as the name slipped her lips. My heart rate picked up and I could feel my hands shaking by my sides. My throat had become dry as if I haven't had a drop of water since ages. I didn't have to look in a mirror to say that my face was pale. I gripped the back of the chair that I was previously sitting on tightly so I don't fall. Don't worry, Erin. It's probably nothing and you're looking too much into things. Don't think about the worst. Maybe she just wants to say that Brianna has got a zit. Knowing Sydney, I won't put it far from her to panic about something so trivial. One thought, however, nagged me. As dramatic Sydney is, the look of pure horror and fear on her face can't be for something so stupid. What if... No, no, no. This can't be possible. "What about Brianna, dammit?!" Gavin was screaming at this point. I could understand his frustration very clearly. Sydney is the type of person who annoys by just existing. And that says a lot. Tears formed in her eyes and she choked on a sob. The next words that came out of her mouth made my heart skip a beat. "She is dead," she wailed. "Someone has killed her." There is no way in hell that this was possible. It has to be a joke. A prank. Something. Anything. Anything but the truth. However, when I looked at the crumbling look on Sydney's face and the shocked look on Gavin's face, I knew that this was as true as it could get. And that's when it hit me. My worst nightmare had become a reality. And the worst part? It was just the beginning.

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