Chapter 23 - WHAT REALLY HAPPENED THE NIGHT ANNA DISAPPEARED
Anna finally told me.
Not Marlene.
Not records.
Her.
That afternoon, before our argument, Anna had been confused for hours.
She took her migraine medication.
Then found tablets in Marlene’s old bottle in her purse.
She thought they were the anti-nausea medication Marlene sometimes carried.
They were clonazepam.
Anna took two.
Not suicide.
Not secret addiction.
A medication mistake inside a brain already affected by encephalitis.
That worsened confusion.
After our argument, she called Marlene.
Marlene picked her up.
Anna became agitated in the car.
At Marlene’s condo she had a seizure.
Ambulance.
Hospital.
Why didn’t Marlene call me?
“She said you caused the episode.”
Anna looked at me.
“Did I say that?”
“I don’t remember.”
Marlene told clinicians yes.
No evidence she intentionally drugged Anna.
Important.
The medication belonged to Marlene.
Anna took it accidentally.
The illness was already present.
The tragedy did not begin with a poisoning plot.
It began with illness.
May you like
Then fear.
Then lies.
