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Small-Town Killer

A Story in Haikus

By Stephanie HoogstadPublished 3 years ago Updated 3 years ago 1 min read
Small-Town Killer
Photo by Kyle Johnson on Unsplash

Author’s Note #1: This format of storytelling, telling a story through haikus, is inspired by stories told by fellow Vocal user Thavien Yliaster. In particular, it is inspired by his story “Reunited”, which you can read here:

Author’s Note #2: This story-in-poems is based on a real-life murder case that happened in my hometown. You can read more about the case here:

A scream in the night

Unheard by all in the town

A silent whimper

*

The death came quickly

Murder by a bloody knife

Nowhere to be found

*

The husband, he claimed

Someone broke in and ran out

Leaving his wife dead

*

The rumors ran wild

People did not believe him

Chilling theories rose

*

He killed her for love

He killed her for the money

He killed her to leave

*

He insisted and

said, “The madman who killed her

is out and about!”

*

Half the town said yes

And half of the town said no

Torn down the middle

*

And then the day came

When the cops took him away

For his wife’s murder

*

The main evidence:

A compromising message

Left with 9-1-1

*

“I killed my wife, shit!”

Prosecution claimed he said.

“Blood everywhere.”

*

The trial went on

With high anticipation

Throughout the whole town

*

A guilty verdict

The jury then handed down

Sealing the man’s fate

*

An ugly murder

A stain on the family

Not the only one

*

Secrets in the dark

Skeletons brought in the light

Over months and years

*

Small town, perfect life,

And the perfect family—

Perfect end of life

Haiku

About the Creator

Stephanie Hoogstad

With a BA in English and MSc in Creative Writing, writing is my life. I have edited and ghost written for years with some published stories and poems of my own.

Learn more about me: thewritersscrapbin.com

Support my writing: Patreon

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    Written by Stephanie Hoogstad