And I’mreallyready for this to be over.
“I promise you, we’re doingeverythingwe can with what information we have. Your father—”
“He’s not my father,” I bite.
“Derrick…” She corrects herself. “Has been…quietas of late. There have been no signs of him.”
“Well, you need to try harder,” I say a little firmer than I was planning it too. I feel a sting of shame turn my insides. Jameson doesn’t deserve my attitude. Shit, no one does except for me. “I’m sorry. You’ve just…he’s a dangerous man and I hate knowing he’s out there.”
“I know. And I promise you, as soon as we hear anything, we’ll let you know.” Jameson says before we hang up.
I tuck my phone into the zipper pocket of my jacket and start on my run. The air is getting cooler, and the trees are beginning to turn orange and brown, covering the sidewalks with crunchy fallen leaves.
This is supposed to be a warm,cozy,time of year.
But, instead I feel nothing but cold, lonely, and scared.
The detectives say they haven’t seen my dad? Yeah, wellIhave.
Not only was I the last one to see him in that motel room, but I’ve heard him screaming in my head ever since—louder every day. His hateful words, his wish for me and Elijah to die, echo through every waking moment. I’ve woken to floorboards creaking, to shadows I swear were real in the corners of my room.
Every pair of eyes that linger for too long. Every whisper on the street.
No matter how much I try, I can’t shake him.
My chest burns; I can’t tell if it’s the run or the anxiety squeezing my ribs.
Either way, I’ve got to keep going. Running is the only thing that’s been keeping me sane lately.
Partially.
As sane as I can be under the circumstances.
I turn up the volume on my Bluetooth headphones and decide to take a new path today down by the water. This is where I used to come escape when Derrick was lashing out. Only now, there’s no running away from him. How can you run from something that’s in your head?
How can you run from yourself?
The sun is rising and I can already feel my bones aching from yesterday’s workout.
But it’s good. If I can focus on the pain coursing through my muscles, maybe everything else will get quieter.
All the thoughts. All the things I have to do around the restaurant. Elijah. Thelackof Elijah. Everything will be quiet if I just keep running.
It’s not long before I’m passing Main Street. But, seeingBloom & Brewmakes me sad so I’ve been avoiding it lately. I’d just rather…not.
I run in place at the crosswalk as I wait for the pedestrian light to flash.
Cold sweat drips down my back, prickling my skin.
My chest burns with urgency, warning me something is wrong.
Someone’s watching me.
My eyes dart around, searching for him.
That’s when a hand grips my shoulder, sending my heart through a shock.
I jolt, grabbing the wrist of who Iassumeis my birth fathers.
