Patricide

Patricide(Joseph Logsdon) Patricide
By Joseph Logsdon
David Price was an honest and respectable man. Unlike so many burdened sons, David did his best to support his dying father. In his heart, David knew that he had a duty to protect his elderly father, but he also knew that his life would be full of pain and heartbreak. After many months of caring for his father, David met a beautiful and voluptuous woman. At first, Veronica Chaplin didn’t mind David’s constant devotion to his sick father, but as time passed, she became resentful.
Despite David’s loyalty to his father, he married Veronica Chaplin. Instead of going on a honeymoon, David took care of his dying parent. Because of David’s devotion to his father, Veronica started to question her marriage. One dark night, Veronica approached her nervous husband.
“Can I talk to you?” Veronica asked.
“What is it?”
“Do you love me?”
“What kind of question is that?”
“Answer the question,” Veronica replied.
“I love you very much,” David answered.
“You’re lying,” Veronica hissed.
“What do you mean?”
“If you truly cared about me, you would take me away from here.”
“I told you, we can’t just leave my father,” David replied.
“Do you love your father more than me?”
“It’s not that I don’t love you, it’s just that I can’t bear the thought of my father living alone. If we abandoned him, he would die. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“Oh, I understand, I just don’t care,” she stated in an angry voice.
“What do you mean, you don’t care?”
“He’s an old man, he’s lived his life.”
“How could you say that?”
“The truth hurts, doesn’t it?”
“What do you expect me to do?”
“I expect you to be a man, a real man!”
“And what is a real man, exactly?”
“No matter what happens, a real man will always stand by his woman. So far, you have failed to support me, even when I desperately needed support. Believe me, I wish I didn’t have to say this, I really do.”
“So, what do you expect me to do about it?” David asked.
“David, we both know that your father isn’t going to get any better.”
“What are you saying?”
“If he’s suffering, why not put him out of his misery?”
“I can’t kill my own father,” David gasped as his heart skipped a beat.
“Trust me, we would be doing him a favor!”
“I can’t do it!” David shouted.
“Oh, come on, stop acting like a coward!”
“What if we get caught?”
“Your father is old, David, or did you forget that? Because of his age, they won’t suspect a thing, even if he does die under mysterious circumstances. Now, are you in, or are you out?”
“How are we going to do it?”
“Don’t worry, you can think of something,” Veronica answered.
During the next few days, David Price thought about his situation. Finally, he decided to go through with Veronica’s plan. One rainy night, David talked to his father for the last time.
“Dad, can I tell you something?”
“What is it?”
“I love you,” he sighed.
“God damn it, I’m not dead yet!” Frank Price shouted.
“Dad, what are you talking about?”
“You act as if I could die any second. I’ll tell you something, if Charles Manson can live to be an old man, then I can certainly live to be an older man.”
“Dad, I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“Until I’m dead, save your tears,” Frank Price huffed.
“Dad, don’t be angry with me,” David stated.
“What are you talking about?”
Without further hesitation, David pressed a pillow against his father’s face. Frank Price tried to fight back, but he was too weak. After minutes of struggling, Frank Price was dead.
“Forgive me,” David cried.
“You did the right thing,” Veronica stated as she entered the room.
“Were you watching the entire time?”
“Of course, I couldn’t let you screw this up, could I?”
“I didn’t screw it up,” David replied.
“I know, and I love you for that,” Veronica stated as she kissed her husband.
Several days later, David and Veronica discussed their future plans over a nice dinner.
“So, where do you think we should go on our first honeymoon?” Veronica asked.
“Veronica, I need more time to think. In case you’ve forgotten, I killed my father,” David stated.
“The guilt will pass, believe me, it will pass,” Veronica laughed.
“I’m not like you,” David stated.
“What do you mean?”
“I can’t live with this guilt, I just can’t!”
“You can, and you will,” Veronica stated as she rose from her chair.
“You can’t control me,” David replied.
“David, I’m sorry if I seem heartless. To be perfectly honest, I feel guilty too, so guilty that I can’t sleep at night.”
Suddenly and without warning, Veronica placed her hands on David’s shoulders. As much as he hated to admit it, David loved Veronica’s soft hands.
“I promise you, things will be different,” Veronica hissed.
“I hope so,” David replied.
“I love you,” Veronica announced.
“That’s what I told my father,” David whimpered.
“I know, and like your father, you’ve been deceived,” she laughed.
Before David could react, a knife pierced his chest. Veronica had a murderous expression on her face as her husband died.
“Why?” David asked.
“Because I’m too good for you,” she laughed.
Within seconds, David Price was dead. As if nothing had happened, Veronica left the house and spent David’s money. Perhaps, Veronica will be brought to justice, but, then again, perhaps not.