Harsh Reality

It was a Tuesday, and Regina Paxton-Price suddenly woke up in a cold sweat. This wasn't new for Regina, as this had been happening for 18 months, and every day, she spent a minute reflecting on her torment. Only Regina knew the exact cause of her anguish. It was a recurring theme that centered on something very close and personal to her: the murder of her wife.

Regina Paxton enjoyed many things in life, but there were two things she relished the most. One of them was her job; she was a respected police captain. The other was her marriage to her wife of five years, Melanie Price. Regina imagined Melanie as the love of her life, and when they tied the proverbial knot, it was two worlds coming together. However, Regina's world was shattered two years prior, when Melanie was suddenly murdered, with her body found in an alley. The cause of death was strangulation, and despite her close and personal ties to Melanie, Regina was insistent on being on the case, as she had to know who was responsible.

This was always where Regina's dream began, and it included her pursuit of the primary suspect in Melanie's murder, a man by the name of Adrian Cross. Adrian was Melanie's business partner; they owned a restaurant together, though Regina often stated that Adrian had developed an obsession with Melanie in the weeks leading to the night of the murder. Regina vigilantly works to prove her case, and her investigation sees her find the murder weapon--an extension cord--with Adrian's prints on it. With that, the arrest follows.

"Adrian Cross, you're under arrest for the murder of Melanie Paxton-Price," Regina says. "Now, would you like to make this easy on yourself, or do you want to do things the hard way?"

Regina slaps the cuffs on her primary suspect, and she successfully gets justice for her wife's murder. Or so she believes. Like clockwork, Regina's dream sees her back in her car, watching Adrian and Melanie discuss business, and it's where the true reality sets in. The real memories of the final days leading up to the night in question saw a much grim picture than the images that ran in Regina's mind. After staring a hole into Adrian and Melanie, Regina waited for Melanie to return home, and it was not a warm welcome.

"Hello, Mel," said Regina. "You're home quite late. Working overtime?"

"It was a hectic day at the restaurant," replied Melanie.

"Oh, I'm sure it was," Regina said mockingly, "but of course, you had Adrian to protect you, right?"

"Don't do this again, Regina," said Melanie.

"Don't you walk away from me!" shouted Regina. "I saw you together with Adrian! I saw how he looked at you! Don't you know that's what they do?!"

"OK, that's enough!" exclaimed Melanie. "You always do this. Adrian and I are not having an affair, and your jealousy is already insane enough without your racist comments." Melanie's words were met with a backhand slap from Regina, who started to glare intensely at her betrothed.

"I've been with the police for 15 years," said Regina. "I know what I'm talking about. It's all I see. Adrian's kind...lusting over and assaulting innocent White women! Though, let's be honest, you keep making it easy for him when you show off your assets like a little slut!" Melanie couldn't believe Regina's words, as she was still busy processing the reality that her own wife of five years had hit her and was verbally abusing her.

"Just a warning," Regina said. "Stay away from Adrian, or something bad will happen to both of you. I'll make sure of that."

Melanie didn't know how serious Regina was. There were problems with Regina's jealousy, but Melanie never thought she would even slap her, let alone even think about what she had planned next. Regina continued stalking her wife and Adrian, which even included sneaking into the restaurant and stealing an extension cord, which she would use later that night to strangle Melanie to death while waiting in ambush. Regina made sure to wear gloves while touching the cord, which she later identified as the murder weapon as she attempted to arrest Adrian.

"Adrian Cross," Regina said with a smug smile, "I'm arresting you for the murder of my dear wife, Melanie Paxton-Price." Regina later took out a gun and it was followed by what she really uttered to Adrian at that moment:

"Now, you can do this easy or do it the hard way. I'm begging you to do it the hard way; it'll result in one less thug in the world."

Right before Regina woke up from her recurring dream, the same ending occurred: police sirens becoming louder, and a number of officers actually placing their captain under arrest, as the mask she wore was found, and had her DNA all over it. Regarding the 18 months that have passed, Regina spent them behind bars, and like clockwork, after waking up from her recurring dream, she spent a full minute struggling with the harsh reality that she is in prison, arrested and convicted for murdering her wife in a crazed rage. Regina's racially motivated attempt to frame Adrian was also added to the list of crimes she was convicted for on trial, and while it only took her a minute to realize that she is paying for her evil actions, Regina would have to live with her punishment and incarceration for the rest of her life.