Marc was walking through town when he suddenly heard a voice. "Hey, you!" a girl called. When he turned around, he saw her: long, curly hair, a gentle smile, and eyes that sparkled like stars on a clear night. She was stunning, and her smile was contagious. Marc felt his heart race.
"Hi, I'm Sophie," she introduced herself, extending her hand.
"Uh, Marc," he replied, slightly embarrassed, and took her hand. Her touch was warm, and he immediately felt a connection.
"I saw you and thought, why not just say hi?" she said, smiling. Her voice was flirtatious, and Marc wasn't sure how to react. He wasn't usually the type to feel comfortable in such situations, but Sophie seemed so open and easygoing that he quickly relaxed.
They chatted for a bit, and before Marc knew it, Sophie suggested they go for a drink together. He was surprised, but at the same time excited. "Sure, why not?" he said. They went to a small café nearby together, and the conversation flowed freely.
Sophie was quick-witted, humorous, and incredibly charming. Marc could hardly believe they got along so well. They laughed at jokes, shared anecdotes from their lives, and talked about their dreams and goals. It felt so easy to talk to her.
After the café, Sophie suggested they take a walk through the nearby park. It was already evening, and the streetlights cast a soft glow on the trees. But as they walked, Marc sensed the mood shift slightly. Sophie suddenly seemed distant, and Marc noticed that she was checking her phone more often.
"Everything okay?" he asked cautiously.
Sophie sighed. "You know, Marc... I really like you, but I feel like you're not taking this seriously. You seem so... distracted." Her words caught him off guard, and Marc felt the situation shift.
"What? I... I don't know what you mean," he said defensively. "I'm having a great evening with you, and I..."
"Maybe you should just be a little more open," she interrupted. "I feel like you're building a wall around yourself."
Marc suddenly felt attacked. "You barely know me," he said, his voice rising. "Why do you assume I'm not being honest?"
Sophie shook her head, stood up, and looked at him. "You know what, Marc? Maybe that was a mistake. I'd better go."
Without waiting for an answer, she turned and left. Marc sat there, completely perplexed. What had just happened? The evening had started so well, and now she was just leaving? He considered calling out to her, but he felt too hurt and confused.
The next morning, he woke up with a dull feeling. He thought about Sophie and the argument that had ruined their evening. He wanted to make amends. He spontaneously decided to go to a flower shop, bought a bouquet of her favorite flowers and a box of chocolates. He wanted to apologize to her and make everything right.
As he passed a kiosk on his way to her apartment, however, his eyes caught a headline: "Young woman found dead in woods – Suspect arrested."
Marc stood frozen. His stomach clenched, and he felt sick. The picture on the front page was unmistakable. It was Sophie. He couldn't believe it. Just a few hours earlier, they had argued, and now... she was dead?
The newspaper dropped the flowers from his hand as he reached for the story, trembling. "22-year-old Sophie K. was found seriously injured in a wooded area near the city and died shortly thereafter. The police have arrested a suspect who is linked to the crime."
Marc felt anger rising within him. The idea that someone had done to Sophie what they described in the newspaper made him seethe. He couldn't just stand there and watch the perpetrator end up behind bars and perhaps be released at some point. No. That wasn't enough.
The next day, it happened. He couldn't just stand by and watch. Marc had long since formed his plan when he read that the suspect was in the local jail before the trial began. Knowing that he could get away with it, he felt only rage.
That night, when all was quiet, Marc sneaked near the jail. It wasn't a large maximum-security prison, and with some skill, he managed to gain access. Only one thought burned inside him: revenge. He knew who the perpetrator was—his name was in the newspaper. And now he was very close.
When Marc finally reached the cell of the man who had taken everything from Sophie, he only looked at him briefly before acting swiftly. No long conversation was necessary. In a brutal act of rage, Marc killed the man. It was so fast, so precise, that the man didn't even know what was happening to him.
Marc stood there, took a deep breath, and felt a strange sense of relief. It felt... good. Better than he had expected. The rage that had tormented him for so long seemed suddenly gone.
Without a backward glance, Marc left the prison. No one saw him. No one would ever know what he had done. But for him, it was enough. The justice he had sought had been served. And he would be able to live with it.