He growled under his breath, turned, and walked out.He waited to hear her engage all the locks on the door.He just about lost it when he heard her trying to stifle the sobs that burst from her.The crying dimmed as she walked away from the door.
He wiped away a tear.The pain he felt at that moment was unbearable.He wanted to pound on her door and demand she let him in, or put his fist through a wall, or scream at the top of his lungs just to release some of the manic pain that wracked his body.
He turned and made his way down the stairs and out the front door.He stood on the sidewalk and looked up at her window.He frowned when the light went off in her living room, and her bedroom light stayed off.All he saw was a dark void, and it somehow made him feel worse.
He got in his truck, stared up at her place for a long moment before putting his vehicle into gear and driving off.He looked in his rearview mirror and thought it was the last time he’d see the area because he wouldn’t be able to go back for a long time.
His last thought was he’d finally found his little and then lost her.He knew in his heart he’d never have another, and that pain added to the rest, making it hard for him to breathe.
Chapter Fourteen
Myla stood in the middleof her dark bedroom, frozen.The tears ran down her face, and she could feel more wracking sobs build in her chest, but all she could do at that moment was just breathe.
So many questions rushed through her head.She hadn’t understood anything he’d said.She realized he’d never really given her a reason for breaking up with her.A sob caught in her throat at the thought of another woman.Was that even possible?Yes.She decided.She saw how the women looked at him when they were out.
Maybe she should have told him the truth about lunch today, but then she’d have to tell him the details about her attack, and then about her suspicions of her attacker watching her.She’d met a person who had become a friend at one of the worst times in her life.Detective Joel Howe had been a street cop at the time of her attack and had been the first to get to her.He had gently wrapped her in a blanket and carried her to the ambulance when it showed up.He stayed with her all night and the next day.After she’d gotten out of the hospital, he and his now-wife Rebecca had helped her find and move into the place she lived now.She had been so grateful for the support she received from them and all her friends.
Her mom and dad had begged her to move back home, but Myla knew she’d go nowhere living in the small town in Iowa where she’d grown up.
So many times, over the last several weeks, she wanted to crawl into Kaleb’s lap and tell him everything.The thought of the first and only time she’d told him she loved him, and got nothing but silence, held her back.She didn’t want to give him an excuse to leave.Now, it didn’t seem like he really needed a reason, or he just wasn’t telling her.
She pressed her hand against her mouth as a sob burst from her lips.
She yanked off her clothes and jumped into the shower.She slid down and sat at the bottom of it, letting the hot water beat down on her head.She sobbed until she had trouble taking a breath and was afraid she was having some kind of anxiety attack.She concentrated on holding air in her lungs and slowly releasing it.
Myla started to shiver and realized the water was beginning to cool, and turned it off.She wrapped her hair in a towel and quickly dried off her body.She pulled the bedspread back and dove into bed naked, with the towel still around her head.She knew it was still early, but she didn’t have the energy to do anything but get through the minutes that crept by.She hoped sleep would finally take her and relieve some of the pressure in her chest.
Several hours later, she was still awake and staring up at the ceiling.She flipped her pillow once and even grabbed the other one on the bed after her hair and tears had made it sopping wet.She kept telling herself she’d be fine.She’d been through bad times before and came out stronger.She wanted to call Kelly or her other friends to come, but her phone was in her purse on the counter, and she didn’t have the energy to get up and get it.
All that night and the next day, she slept in short periods before her tears would wake her up.By Saturday night, the only movement she could handle was going to the bathroom or to get a drink of water.She’d never made it out of her bedroom until late Sunday morning.
She tried to make herself a piece of toast, but after only a few bites, she felt like vomiting, so she threw the rest away.
She rummaged through her purse and pulled out her phone to find it dead.She plugged it into the bedroom charger and waited to see if she’d received any messages or calls.Kelly had called several times, and Amy and Kelly had called a few times.She debated calling one or all to come over, but they all had to work tomorrow, and the sunlight was already fading.
She took another shower, but this time she stayed upright and even took the time to dry her hair.She crawled back in under the covers and pulled them up to her chin.She made sure her alarm was on, closed her eyes, and slept.
