I was getting married in two weeks, I had to pinch myself, I was so happy and so in love with this man. I met him eight months ago, I know that's not very long, but , I felt as though I had known him forever. We were meant to be together. Today, I was meeting my friend, Lena in town for some shopping and lunch, she had flown in from Chicago, for my wedding, she had not met Steve yet. As I drove into town, I thought about Steve, he was a wonderful man, he had been married before, this was my first. I would be turning thirty- five next month and I was ready for this union. I pulled into a parking space, locked my car and went inside the restaurant to meet Lena. I spotted her sitting at a table by the window, she looked very excited, her face was glowing, making her look even more beautiful, Lena, I asked, whets up, you look positively radiant. She could not hold back, she said, Tara, I am getting married, I met a man, we were meant for each other, you will love him, I want you to meet him soon. His name is Steve she said, isn't that a riot, we are both marrying men named Steve. I laughed nervously, looking towards the window, I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me, I saw Steve across the street, he got out of his car and opened the passenger door, a tall beautiful woman stepped out of the car, looking at Steve with love, he leaned down planting a kiss on her cheek, they headed up the street, arm and arm, Lena looked out the window, she dropped her drink, her eyes wide with horror, what's wrong Lena, I asked? Thats Steve with that woman, how do you know that, I asked, you have never met him. No, no, she said, that is my Steve. I was taken off guard by what she said, and was speechless for a moment, then I said, Lena, that is my Steve also. We both jumped up, running out of the restaurant, we followed Steve and the woman, they went inside a small cafe, she sat down at a table, Steve went to get coffee, he returned and they looked at each other with such love, it made me sick. Lena, I said, we are going to kill Steve. We will kill him and bury his body out by bard cemetery. We will go to his house tonight, after he is asleep, I have keys to the front door. I will pick you up at your parents house at ten o'clock tonight. I will be ready, Lena said. I dropped her off at her parents , and drove home, I was so mad at Steve, I could have killed him then. I slept for a couple of hours, got up and made coffee, I would need it. It was time to go, Lena was waiting in front of the house she got into the car, wiping her tears away, shall we go, she said. All the lights were off at Steve's, except for a dim light in the front hall, he always left it on for me. I turned the key in the lock, we stepped inside, walking down the hall to Steve's bedroom, I peeked inside the door, Steve was on the bed, lying on his side, I started to tiptoe over to the bed, I heard someone crying, At first, I thought it was Lena, then I saw someone sitting in the corner, it was that woman from the cafe, she looked up and seen me, did you come here to see Steve, she asked? you are to late, I killed him. How could you do that, I asked, Lena and I came here to kill Steve. Well, I was going to marry Steve, she said, but today, I found letters from his other lovers, I guess that would be the two of you, Steve got exactly what he deserved. When I confronted him, he said, he could not stop, he said women fall in love so easy, it was just a game, he said. That's when I decided to kill him, I waited until he turned his back, I took out my gun, he had bought for me, and when he turned around, I shot him. We have to get his body out of here, I said. We will take him down by the cemetery. The three of us rolled him over, wrapping the sheets around his body, dragging him out to my car, getting him into the trunk, we drove to the cemetery. It was a warm night, the moon lighting the way as we silently dug the grave. We through him into the hole and started to cover him, wait, I said, I reached into my purse, taking out a picture of myself, I through it on top of Steve, The other two did the same, then we covered him , he would be sleeping with the three of us eternity.

Copyright © 2004 lois thurman