On An Airplane

I blink several times. Nothing makes sense. The man next to me is supposed to be dead.

He's drinking what I think is champagne. His gray hair glows in the dim light of the airplane cabin, and he's reading a book.

He must feel my eyes on him because he turns. "Is something wrong?"

"Um…" I stumble over my words. "You're Jeffrey Epstein."

He smiles. "Yes, I am." He reaches out to shake my hand but I just stare at him, wondering what that hand has done. After a second he lowers it.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah." I take a deep breath. "You're not a good man."

"Excuse me?"

"I know what you've done."

He laughs. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Yes, you do."

He puts his glass down. "Listen, kid. I don't know what you think you know. But you're sorely mistaken."

I clench my teeth. "Those girls didn't deserve it. They did nothing wrong. You will get what you deserve."

I stand up and walk away.