A single tear dripped from the eye of a broken girl who read the text “I’m sorry,” suddenly she was okay. He apologized, it didn’t matter anymore, her mind was filled with a response of forgiveness.   

Liv: It’s okay, I know you didn’t mean it. I angered you, I’m sorry. 

Jake: You know how I get, and you know I didn’t mean it. 

Liv: I know. 

The sad thing was she didn’t know anything, the “uncontrollable anger” made her lover spiral out to hit her. This wasn’t the first time. Toxic love kills the soul, makes the heart weak. Liv knew she was not in the wrong but the words he whispered made her believe the lies he buried inside her body.  

There was no time left, her heart was too weak. She gave him power; he gave her mind things to believe. She was his slave for love. And her heart always went back for more, drugged with the fear of being alone. She stayed, she apologized, she loved him. Her lifeless body sunk into the depth of an ocean, but the ocean was Jake. He left her to die.  

All eyes were on him, he was the prime suspect. Why would he do it through? He treated her like she deserved the world. Jake came from a wealthy family, his dad loved flashy cars, his mom loved designer clothes. He wanted love; Liv was his only resource. He was happy. 

At least he got a few things from his parents, love for pretty things and his father’s anger. He was shocked when he laid his hands on Liv, everything flashed before his eyes, he couldn’t help it though. She calmed him down, but she was his punching bag. He blamed her for the emotions he felt. She saw the good in him, what was underneath his thick skin. The boy that grew up too fast and was shoved money in trade for love. Money can only buy you so much, it did not matter he had all the time to spend every cent. He showered Liv in rose petals and glittery high heels that cost a fortune.  

This was his cover up.  

Liv’s body was found in the woods two miles from Jake’s home in Denver. Clearly, he did it. Investigators searched her phone to reveal texts between Liv and a close friend, Jenna. 

Jenna: Criminal minds is on tonight, want to spend the night and order a pizza? 

Liv: Sorry, spending the night at Jakes. We can watch it next Thursday. 

Jenna: Liv, I haven’t seen you in what feels like years. It’s one night, please. 

Jenna: Do not let him control you!! Just ask him please. 

Liv: Jenna I really can’t, he’ll get upset. I don’t want to upset him, please we can do it next week I promise. 

Jenna: Okay, text me. 

Liv: will do. 

The text didn’t reveal much about his character besides his love to hold Liv captive and limit her to see the people she is close with. However, He had been diagnosed with PTSD, Bipolar Disorder, and Borderline-Personality disorder. The bruising on her arms were deep purple, Scratches lined her stomach, her lip had dried blood that dripped down from her nose and dried along her cheek. There was no body bag, no hiding. She looked like she had just been dumped by a wasteland. 

The charming smile, no criminal history, good grades. Jake looks like the boy you would bring home to meet your parents. But Livs mother told the detective she had notices bruises on her arms and legs, but Liv covered the boy’s mistakes by blaming herself deeming to be a clumsy person. Her mother grew concerned as the bruising deepened and stayed, but bruises don’t move places on the human body.  

Fake tears slid down the face of a cold-hearted murderer, “I loved Liv with everything in me, she was my home. We spent every day together.” 

“Did you look for her when she went missing?” The detective’s voice was dark and hollow. 

Jake gave a face of confusion and slight worry, “I called 911 as soon as she didn’t answer me.” 

“I was so upset she wouldn’t pick up the phone, I called her until she would answer. Her friends hadn’t heard from her at all that day.” 

“That doesn’t answer my question young man. Did you look for the girl?” The room was silent, but the detective could smell fear slide off Jake’s body as he answered every question with great passion.  

Lies, lies, lies. 

A polygraph test was issued to the boy. All he had to do was tell the truth, he stuck to his lies and begged to take it again. Cold metal cuffs gripped the wrists of an abuser, a murderer, the man that ended the life of an innocent girl.  

My body lifted from the lies and untold truths I kept in me; I protected a guilty man. I was a victim of the many never-ending horror stories of love. Now I understand, I was addicted to the “love” I was given. I was so addicted that I didn’t care I was dead, I was just happy to fly away.