The phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Mr. Gosnell?”
“Yes.”
“This is Mercy General. I’m calling in regards to your daughter, Leslie Gosnell.”
“What’s happened?!”
“Well, sir she was in a car accident and has been admitted here. I’m afraid she was DOA .”
....
“I’ll need you to come identify the body.”
....
“Sir? I’m very sorry.”
Sobs.
Click

Mr. and Mrs. Gosnell look with red-rimmed eyes at the swollen and mangled brunette flat on the cold steel table. Her eyes and cheeks are swollen, her face bruised and cut, and one arm missing.

“It’s so hard to tell. I just can’t believe that is our little Leslie!” Mrs. Gosnell breaks into uncontrollable weeping.

“She had a birthmark. On the inside of her elbow, a tan sort of splotch,” offered Mr. Gosnell, “But with her arm…”

“Mr. and Mrs. Gosnell, I need a positive ID. Is this your daughter?” pushed the coroner.

“I think so….What do you think, hon?” Mr. Gosnell effectively shoved the burden onto his wife.
“Yes. It’s her.” Mrs. Gosnell decided it was time to accept the truth.