Ain't No Sunshine by Leslie Dubois

me. I watched the sunlight trickle through the trees and dance on her face, bringing in shadows of doubt. Or was it something else? Maybe she just didn't love me as much as I loved her. Or maybe my father had gotten to her.
    "He said something to you, didn't he? Did he threaten you?" Through all the years of abuse from my father, I had never even considered fighting back in my own defense. But if he'd threatened my Ruthie, I think I would be angry enough to kill him.
    "No, he didn't threaten me. But what he did say made a lot of sense." Leaves crunched under her feet as she paced around me. "He probably didn't tell you how prestigious this school is. I had to be accepted before your father could even offer to pay. I can't pass up this opportunity."
    I sat down on the ground and ran my fingers through my hair. I couldn't believe she was planning on leaving me for six weeks. What was I supposed to do without her?
    "I think I should go," she said after several minutes of pacing.
    I shook my head. "No, no. Don't do this. This is just what he wants."
    Ruthie knelt in front of and cupped my face in her hands. "It's only six weeks, Stephen. And in that time, please try to find... something else you're passionate about."
    I continued to shake my head.
    "Just try, okay? And if, in six weeks, we still feel the same way about each other -”
    I interrupted her with a kiss so strong it showed her without a doubt where my passion was.  I didn't want to stop kissing her. How could she deprive me of her lips for six weeks? I didn't think I could bear it.
    Ruthie placed her hands on my chest and pushed me away firmly. Then she ran out of the woods, wiping tears from her eyes.
    The next day she was gone.
     

Chapter 11
     
    "I think I know what's going on here," Lieutenant Drake said. "Your father was in love with Ruthie. He's been trying to keep you apart all these years because he wants her for himself." He gave a satisfied grin as if he'd unearthed some big mystery. He could dig for days into my father's disturbed psyche and still be nowhere near the truth.
    "Did he touch her or something?" he continued. "Is that why you killed him? He touched your girlfriend, you couldn't control your rage, and you killed him in a fit of jealousy."
    I sighed and rolled my eyes. "No, that's not it," I said, putting my head in my hands. I should have just let him think that. It would have been easier than what I would eventually have to tell him.  But I couldn't let him think that about Ruthie. Not my pure, perfect Ruthie.
    There was a rapid knock on the door.
    "Lieutenant Drake," a blonde woman said after poking her head into the room. "We finally got in touch with a Stanley Pender from the Livingston police department. Do you want to talk to him? Maybe to corroborate his story?"
    My head bolted upright. Lieutenant Drake scooted his chair back and started to stand.
    My heartbeat accelerated. My breath caught. I couldn't let him talk to Officer Pender. Not yet, anyway. "How can you corroborate my story when you haven't gotten all of it?" I asked, hoping it would be enough. All I needed was a few more hours.
    Lieutenant Drake looked at his watch. I didn't have a watch, but I knew it had to be at least three in the morning.
    "Sarah, why don't you tell him to go back to sleep and we'll talk to him in the morning."
    "Sure thing," Sarah said before exiting the room.
    I exhaled and relaxed a little.
    "So where were we?" the lieutenant asked, scooting closer to the table. "Right, you never answered my question. Did your father somehow hurt Ruthie? Is that why you killed him?"
    I shook my head. "My father would never hurt Ruthie. He loved her more than he loved me."
    "So I'm right. You were jealous of your father's feelings for her and that's why you killed him."
    I shook my head again. "I thought you didn't think I killed him. I thought you said I wasn't capable."
    "I don't. But given the right circumstances people can be driven to do uncharacteristic