The Plan

The chill of March 20, 2011, permeated the air, but the woman felt nothing. Years had passed since her tears dried, since the screams of her family were silenced by a blade held by a pale hand. That night, she had seen his face, and it had been etched into her memory, a constant burning reminder of a vow she made.
“Good morning, America,” the newscaster's voice boomed, interrupting her thoughts. “Today, Senator John Stuart will be visiting St. Catherine Orphanage for the celebration of his 56th birthday.”
She punched the remote, plunging the room into silence. Today was the start. The culmination of years of meticulous planning. She walked to the bathroom, the cool drizzle of the shower a stark contrast to the ice in her heart. Warm showers were for those whose hearts were still capable of feeling; hers had turned to stone long ago.