Simone had believed Derek would marry her after I died.
He had promised her a new life.
Instead, they both went to jail.
PART 8 — THE TRIAL
The trial began eleven months after the first fire.
By then I had undergone six surgeries.
I could move my left arm better.
My doctors had reduced some of the scar contracture along my neck.
My face would never look exactly as it had before.
I had finally stopped wanting it to.
Derek’s defense argued that Simone acted alone.
Simone’s attorneys blamed Derek.
Their love story lasted until the possibility of prison appeared.
Then they tore each other apart.
Prosecutors played the voicemail.
“She survived. What are we going to do now?”
The courtroom became silent.
Then they played another recording.
Derek’s voice.
“Don’t call me again. Delete everything.”
Simone:
“You said this would be over.”
