JODI LEE: [Moves down next to Marlow, places hands over hers] Let’s help you remember. We can do that together. All right?
MARLOW FIN: [Nods slowly]
JODI LEE: The beginning. Let’s start from the beginning of that day. What is it that you do remember? Take us to that morning. Did you know you were going to drive to the cabin?
MARLOW FIN: I followed them.
That’s why I ended up there. I wanted to talk to Isla so badly. I wanted to be able to tell her so much. I didn’t have the nerve to go inside our house. I waited that morning parked outside. I thought I could try to talk to her from a distance. But then Patrick came out the front door with her. He carried two backpacks. And then she came out quickly and they got into his car and started driving. So, I followed them.
JODI LEE: When did you realize they were going to the cabin?
MARLOW FIN: Almost immediately, when they started going north.
JODI LEE: Did you ever think, maybe I should stop? Turn around?
MARLOW FIN: I was on autopilot. I didn’t think. I just drove behind them. They pulled into a local pie shop that’s a little over an hour before you get to the cabin. We used to always stop there as kids.
But I didn’t stop with them. I kept driving and got to the cabin first. I parked my car on a side road and walked the rest of the way.
JODI LEE: When they got to the cabin, did you make your presence known right away?
MARLOW FIN: They didn’t come inside. They went on a hike first. By the direction they were going, I knew it had to be Covet Falls.
JODI LEE: Covet Falls. That’s the waterfall close to the cabin. Do you know why they were going there?
MARLOW FIN: [Shakes head] I decided to wait for them in the back. The lakeside of the cabin. Patrick came back first. And then Isla saw me.
JODI LEE: Did she seem happy to see you? Surprised?
MARLOW FIN: She was . . . nothing. She didn’t react. She walked past me into the cabin. Patrick wasn’t super pleased to see me either. There was no explosive confrontation. It was worse. It was like I didn’t matter. Like I didn’t exist to them.
JODI LEE: Did this frustrate you? Maybe even anger you?
MARLOW FIN: No . . . no. I felt sadness. I was overcome with sadness.
JODI LEE: When did you eventually speak?
MARLOW FIN: Patrick brought out the fishing poles from the shed onto the dock. She followed him, and I kind of waited back. I wasn’t sure, really, if I should even stay. I considered giving up and leaving.
But I followed them once again. I sat down next to her on the dock, and she didn’t get up or anything. She finally turned to me once, told me she didn’t want to go there. I respected that and we just fished. Quietly. Next to each other. Our legs dangled deep in the lake. The water was so high.
JODI LEE: By this time, was it still light out?
MARLOW FIN: Yes. But the sun was setting. Patrick caught two walleyes. They were actually quite big . . . he cleaned and gutted them in front of us. Fried them. We ate pretty much in silence outside. Patrick had made a bonfire. That’s when . . .
JODI LEE: That’s when what happened?
MARLOW FIN: That’s when Isla just lost it. She blames me for it, you know.
JODI LEE: For what?
MARLOW FIN: His death. Sawyer’s death.
JODI LEE: How did she lose it?
MARLOW FIN: Screaming at me. Like she was finally saying everything she wanted to say. She looked like a different person, there was so much anger. It was . . . pure, unadulterated rage.
I may have said some things back . . . things I shouldn’t have said. I regret them completely. I wish I would have just taken it. I should have taken it. It was . . . it was horrible.
JODI LEE: Did it ever get physical?
MARLOW FIN: No . . . no. This was worse than that.
JODI LEE: What was Patrick doing during all of this?
MARLOW FIN: He finally told us to stop. Stood between us and then took Isla inside. I don’t know what was said between them once they went inside the cabin. I stayed by the bonfire.
I was already so warm from all the fighting . . . all the hostility with Isla. My face, the fire. I felt like I was on fire. I was so upset after our fight. I was shaking . . . I was not myself.
It all gets so foggy after this. It’s like I’m in the woods and they’re on fire. And I can’t get out. I can’t see past the smoke.
I can’t see anything.
JODI LEE: So, this . . . this is when you start to lose your memory of that night?
MARLOW FIN: I’ve tried so hard. I’m so tired of not being able to remember. My past and how I was found. That night. I can’t . . . I can’t do it anymore. [Head goes down and shoulders shake]
JODI LEE: Marlow . . . it’s okay. I can help you.
