The driver starts honking. “Look where you are going, moron!”
I deserved that.
I step back to the sidewalk, quickly extending my arm with my palm opened and mouth, “Sorry”. The old man behind the wheel flips me off and drives away.
Focus, Sarah. You won’t be doing any research if you are in the hospital, or dead.
“Oh gosh, yeah, you almost got hit by a car, you are a lucky ducky. Hey! you should hurry up and run back home. There’s no time to waste. Idiot,”Life says without skipping a beat.
“For once, Life, you’re right!” I reply out loud.
“Wait, what? No, I was being sarcastic!”
“Thanks. You’re finally useful.”
“Ugh… Gawd! I hate it when you don’t get my sarcasm. Plus, I’m always useful.”
Chapter Three
SARAH
At the beginning, I saw Bruno’s house as a fortress and used it as such. I would almost never leave the premises. I was searching for a clue he might have left behind, and to be completely honest, I didn’t want to leave – without him, the outside world terrified me.
He vanished overnight and left all sorts of stuff there, even the guns, although I don’t think one can travel carrying that much hardware, no matter who you are.
Well, maybe he could. I don’t know anymore.
I needed to solve two of my many issues, starting with my fear of the outside world and then Bruno’s place driving me nuts.
After I left witness protection, I moved out of Bruno’s, despite everyone telling me not to do it, especially since the people who left the program usually ended up dead. No one ever really understood how I found the resolve to abandon it, though I guess I can’t blame them because they don’t know everything I do. The only real threat was Asad, and he’s in a shallow grave somewhere.
After that, the only thing that made sense was enlisting in the army.
And I did just that.
Yeah, that’s what I said. I fucking enlisted, and I’m so damn proud of it. In the army I learned a lot, and I really liked that, too. That’s why I burned through stages, fast. I assimilated all of what I thought were Bruno’s best traits, such as his military slang, heightened senses and body language, only to realize it was the army that made him that way.
In short, everything there reminded me of him. That’s why I often found myself doing things he also did, like P.T. early in the morning.
Every day I go for a run. I like doing it before the dawn when no one is about. Running allows me to think in peace, far away from all the noise, even if I end up always thinking abouthim.
Along with the guns, Bruno left an offshore bank account under my name with a small fortune in it. I swore to never take a dime from it until I realized it was stupid. It was his way of showing he cares about me.
“Now he cares for you. Don’t you remember thinking he was a douchebag because he left you and didn’t really care?”
I’m pretty sure you know who said that.
Anyway, the money helps a lot.
I live in a well-maintained but basic studio apartment building. Small? Yes… Convenient? Yes.
“Depressing? Yes, girl,”Life adds.
I put the key in, twist it and push the door open until I’m welcomed by a strong, moldy smell. The green paint on the walls is faded, the kitchen was last furnished by someone during the 1980s, but I like how a bar almost closes it off completely. The only window here to the left of my bed – it allows the morning sun to trickle in.
The apartment is temporary, so I don’t care.
I jump on the bed and turn on my laptop.
