Time has always been an obsession of mine that I couldn’t let go. I never knew why I needed them, perhaps it gave me a sense of unity and order. Without these numbers, I felt as if I’d fall apart. Whenever I went out, I always carried a notebook, a pen, and a watch. Every time I heard a siren ring, I wrote it down. Every time I heard news that could influence me, I wrote it down. I wrote all events I found important, even if others deemed it idiotic.

It was 7:17 AM when I heard sirens. The shrill noise had cut through my walls as I dressed for school. It was 12:42 PM when I learned why they rang. I was called out of math class by the principal. The principal told me news that shocked me down to the core; he had told me that my boyfriend, Jake, had been involved in an accident and didn’t make it. I stared at the clock behind him, unable to make eye contact. We stood in awkward silence before the principal said his condolences and sent me back to class.

I was the first in the school to know, but the rest learned the news shortly after. School counselors went around and addressed the classrooms, offering support to students. Some people sobbed despite not even know Jake. There were even people who came to me in the hallways to apologize for my loss that I hadn’t met before. Those who did offer me condolences tried to make small talk, one even had the galls to ask if I witnessed the accident. I understood that they were trying to be polite and were curious, but I was seriously offended.

I went throughout the day, trying to act normal as possible. People started to question my cool façade and slowly, people stopped approaching me. I had thought that they had just given up because I refused to talk much, but my thoughts were proven wrong.

Throughout the night, my phone blew up with texts. As soon as I went to school the next day, people started to accuse me of killing Jake, this rumor was spread across the school. During lunch, I tried to talk to my best friend, Mallory, but she was nowhere to be found. Math was the only period Mallory and I shared besides lunch. I was looking forward to seeing her, and I wanted to see how she was coping with Jake’s death.

As soon as I arrived at math class, I noticed Mallory was surrounded by people and was showing off her arm. I was too far away to see why. I tried to go up to her, but someone cut me off and started spouting obscenities off at me. He hardly made any sense and as he rambled, he started to get heated.. I panicked and started to cry when the man raised his fist while, but the teacher finally overheard and sent me into the hallway. As I left, I heard the teacher say how she was going to write a referral for the man who yelled at me. I expected my Mallory, to come out and help me calm down but she never did.

After school, I immediately went home. I sat on my bed and pulled my bookbag next to me. The teachers hadn’t assigned homework, so I debated whether I should read or browse my phone. I was about to pick up a book when my phone chimed. Curiosity got the best of me and I started to read my texts.

“ur such a b*tch! i cant believ u did that to jake and mallory”

I stared at my phone screen, wanting to laugh and cry at the same time. I had no clue what was happening, but as I continued to read the texts I slowly pieced it together. Mallory had spread rumors that I killed Jake in a fit of jealousy when I found out that he was leaving me for her. She had even been showing off a fresh scar in class that I supposedly gave to her. How anyone could believe her lies beats me. I threw my phone to the other side of my bed and turned on the television. I watched and watched until Jake was mentioned.

It was at 8:12 PM when the news announced that Jake Wilson had been tortured before death. He was bound by his feet and wrist to a tree, blindfolded, and had blunt force trauma to his jaw. None of his injuries announced on tv would have been enough to kill him, but the cause of death wasn’t released. The news reporter went on a tangent, warning citizens to be on the lookout and offering a reward for anyone who could give them information.

I shut off my television and rested my face against my pillow. At that moment, I swore upon his grave that I would help get his killer arrested, no matter what.

No matter what, Jake, I will aid you until my time runs out, I thought to myself before finally letting myself sob.