She rushed forward, shoving me aside and clutching him tightly in her embrace. "Ronan, my sweet grandson. I was only gone for a short while to see a doctor. How could this happen?"
Tears streamed down Ruby's face as she trembled uncontrollably. "Ronan! Wake up, baby. Please don't scare Mommy like this. Are you mad at Mommy for not taking you to school today? Please, wake up. I'm sorry! I'll do anything, just please, open your eyes!"
Ruby's face twisted with regret as she spoke and slapped herself hard across the cheek. The surrounding crowd watched the heartbreaking scene, their voices filled with sorrow and sympathy. "Huft, everyone in the neighborhood knows how well-behaved and polite this child was. He was such a joy to be around."
"Yeah, I remember how much his family loved him. Now that he's gone, how will they go on?"
"Such a tragedy. A bright little boy, gone just like that. How did he suddenly drown in the pond?"
Amidst the murmurs, a police officer investigating the case approached me with a stern expression, holding a tablet. "We just checked the surveillance footage. It clearly shows you bringing the victim here and forcibly drowning him in the pond."