Waiting for the Devil to Grow: A Mother's Decade-Long Pursuit of Justice

months old when she was killed, with not

was not sentenced. Instead, he was protected.

te my hair being completely wh

I had survived t

le school due to family circumstances. At 18, my father, Jack Be

rs older than me. He got drunk every day. Most people in the village had gone out to work as migrant workers, but he didn't go and

since childhood. I wasn't afraid of being bea

-law, Lisa Bennett, began to beat and scold me. Perhaps due to c

ach time. In a moment of desperation, and being young and impulsive, I di

ng myself was a challenge. I truly had no way to take her with me. My plan was to s

lack of education, earning the lowest wages. In this way, I was quite satisfied. I didn't have to worry

managing to put aside a small amount of money, and didn't dare visit a hospital w

er contacted anyone from my homet

n, Cindy Smith,

ng a basin of dirty water from the kitchen to dump in the garden ar

much I nearly dropped the basin. Our eyes

nged at me, hugging me tigh

is in

ica? Is she sick?" My throat felt chok

ca is

k as if hit by a heavy blow, and the world around

s thrown

the suspect wouldn't speak, so it was only speculation. Each time she was thrown, her head was

boy named Alex Hardy, and no o

tter was settled. But in my heart, it isn't over. Su

erced by countless arrows, unable to

have been for every

breaking a finger and crying from th

e the course

llage, making a name for herself outside and becoming wealthy. This time, the family of three

t day, the village women played cards with h

essly looked after, given food

Monica crying that da

ndmother returned home, finding the house too quiet,

h so filthy its original color was lost

nts, she untied it, took one loo

atters in the area rushed over upon hearing

flee, but their car was i

word. From various testimonies and deductions, Monica was re

flagstone, stai

compensated Anthony with a sum of money. They were glad to g

ide down. Monica's death too

ly returned, having heard about the incid

l I had no tears left. I sat up and dra

ho hurt Monica was still ou

o saw me looked terrified. They had never se

ndy left me only t

rom the original city as quickly as possible.

m seemed impossible, but I had n

uld dedicate my life to this, eve

ar, I w

come strong, I needed to educate myself. With my current knowledge, I coul

local community and understand the situation better. Whenever I had free time, I would immerse myself in books, rea

ad taken advantage of my job as a postpartum caregi

ion for me. It allowed me to move between employers' homes

years, I hadn't fou

he had disappeare

e a part-time cook. Although being a postpartum caregiver allowed me to visit many famil

best high school, calculating that

a was a strong-willed woman who would e

e city, with several being prestigious schoo

iddle school students, h

ny people sought my services, an

I needed to prepare meals in advance for the dean to take to his son. I had my eye on the job co

chool student, a talkative and cheerful chil

a clue to come my

ishing cooking, I chatted

esh vegetables in season,

y replied

eating, suddenly bu

ared at the c

o receive an award, he also said, 'Gotcha!' I didn't mean

, and I could

m my hometown. Could the Isaac he men

He's about to take the college entrance

s! He aced the recent

on reached my ea

rash, ready to leave, but my hands tremb

their room, I had to leave the house. The inform

ades above what I had expected. It seemed Monica was helping me from the be

th the dean and his child were ho

, preparing four dishes that were

t of his room, the ta

ndle it myself." The dean

rt on cash lately and could take on cleaning duties. The

r his study. I believed that compu

ow to use a computer. Time was

chived. There were three students named Isaac, and I didn't know w

ught my attention. He star

y in starting school. The timing coincided with the two

computer. Now I could p

n that I was looking for part-time work. Whether Isa

iligent; his mother,

amily was difficult to please, and no part

satisfied and took me home

r in the kitchen, p

nd I heard the sound of a mothe

t resist

me boy, over six feet tall, slender, wi

t from what I had imagined,

?" Eva glared at me afte

uch a good-looking kid.

rustic look as someone from the co

itchen, my legs weak an

felt he was the one

off. Wasn't I sear

at I would do when I saw my enemy-pounce on him, tear him

f me overturned my perception

e for a week, I grew even mo

but also possessing many talents. He was talented in

nformation, he was the

as goi

istaken him fo

od I cooked and ca

Isaac's father, whose indifference was quite obvio

me and complime

of hesitation and

ed the family's approval, and Eva su