Tequila:Hey, I do hope you’re okay. Whatever happened between you and Hush, he’ll come back. He’s a good man, and he’d be a total idiot to walk away from someone like you. Xoxo. Love you.
I smile as my chest warms in appreciation. “I hope you’re right because I don’t think I’ll ever be the same.” I set my phone down. “I also need to stop talking to myself.”
Wallowing in bed isn’t something I’m going to allow myself to do, so I’m going to get up, put on yoga clothes and head to the gym. Yes, I should be here in case he decides to show up, but that would mean I’m waiting for him and I’m not going to do that.
Not for any man.
Not even the best one.
I tug on tight leggings and a top, then throw on a hoodie.
There’re voices approaching as I head toward the stairs and I pause with a quick jolt.
Two men are heading in my direction.
My heart hammers and it’s the one man that causes me to freeze where I stand. Medium build, longer unkept hair. When he gains distance on me and we lock eyes, my blood turns to ice.
With my heart in my throat, nausea collides with my stomach, and I think I’m going to be sick.
He’s wearing the same sweatshirt he had on at Alexander’s club.
It was him.
It is him.
There aren’t enough words—aren’t enough emotions that can describe my exact feeling at this moment. I can’t breathe. The air is being stripped from my lungs, and I can’t seem to regulate enough airflow. Everything starts to tilt, spin into a moving nightmare. The walls, the floors beneath my weighted feet, everything rotates on their sides, and I can’t fucking move. It’s only when his confused expression turns to a recognizing one, that I let out a violent yell echoing off the walls.
“Little Rabbit?” He sneers, bile rising in my throat, threatening to take me out.
The name sends me into a deep spiral as he slithers his way toward me wearing the same evil grin I tried every single day and night to forget. For months to forget.
How did he find me?
How is this real?
Am I having another nightmare?
But no, this is real, this is all too familiar.
You will survive. You will live.
Move, Danika. Fucking move!
I find every ounce of strength in me to pry myself from the ground and bolt for my apartment. It’s not far, I haven’t made it that far. There’s no way to get to the exit with him blocking it, so I aggressively sprint the little distance I need.
“Oh, little rabbit. You can’t run from me. Not this time.” His laughs carries and I want to die.
Heavy footsteps trail behind me.
My heart is about to beat out of my chest, and my lungs burn from the pain. It’s not a matter of having lost stamina, but the crippling anxiety affecting me.
“Come on, come on,” I grunt out, trying so desperately to get inside before he makes it to me.
There’s small leap of joy when I unlock my door and a tiny moment of victory until it’s gone.
Until the tiny piece of hope fizzles out.
The one who haunts me every day grabs my hair and forces me back.
