Without another word, she turned and walked to the car. Casey sat in the front seat, her eyes fixed on me. When Lila opened the door, Casey pointed toward me, and Lila turned her head just slightly, smiling before getting in.
I sat and watched them leave, my heart nearly beating out of my chest.
Tonight hadn’t gone exactly as planned, but…
Now I knew for certain, she was exactly what I wanted.
Musicblaredthroughmyheadphones as I walked down the sidewalk, my body moving to the beat of the music. My favorite band—Sleep Token—was playing, and I always lost myself in their lyrics. Their songs always made me feel light, and ready to take on the world. Tonight was no different, though a different emotion came when my favorite song came on.
It had been a weird few days, my mind wandering back to Jason at Club Ghost. The way he looked at me when we stood outside had made my breath catch and my heart race. He had seemed so familiar, but I couldn’t place where I’d seen him before. I kept going over and over in my head where I could have possibly seen him before, but never could figure it out.
My phone vibrated in my pocket, making me jump, and I pulled it out to see a text from an unknown number. My brows pulled together as I opened it, and a chill crept up my spine. The pounding of my heart was so loud, it drowned out the music playing in my headphones.
A photo of me walking down the street filled my screen, clearly unaware of my picture being taken. The text below it made my heart still and my blood run cold.
I can’t wait to hear you scream
My boots clacked against the concrete as I started to run, every shadow I passed urging me forward. The cold October air whipped against my cheeks, painting them a rosy red. Tears began to stream down my face as I passed a dark alley, almost positive I saw someone step from the shadows. Fear slipped into my chest as my legs began to cramp, the adrenaline I felt only moments ago waning.
Just a few more feet, I told myself.You’re almost there.
A tall shadow loomed over me, and the sound of heavy footsteps echoed behind me as I pulled my headphones free from my ears, tossing them into my open bag. I let out a soft whimper as I kept moving, the door to my apartment building coming into view. When I reached it, I slid my key into the lock, my hands trembling, causing them to slip from free. Finally, when I gained my bearings, a soft click sounded, and I hurriedly pulled the door open. Just as I stepped inside a hand shot out, barely grazing my coat, and I let out a startled scream. I slammed the door shut before they could grab me, and the sound of it locking eased my nerves just a little.
I turned to face the person who had been following me and swallowed down the lump that had begun to form in my throat. A tall figure dressed in all black stood just outside the door. Their chest rose and fell at an unsteady pace, their face obscured by a hood. They pressed their hands against the glass and leaned forward, their breath creating a small spot of condensation.
“Go away!” I screamed. “I’m calling the police!”
I unlocked my phone, my fingers hovering over the keypad. His fingers began to move against the glass, and suddenly, I saw exactly what he was doing.
He had drawn a small heart in the condensation, the lettersLGTwritten inside.
My initials.
I saw a smile spread across his lips from beneath his hood before he quickly wiped the drawing away with the sleeve of his jacket, then walked away.
I stood frozen in place, allowing my breathing to return to normal. My legs finally remembered how to move, and I hurried up to my apartment, seeking the comfort and safety of my home.
Sleepnevercametome that night.
I tossed and turned for hours before finally getting up and watching cheesy romance movies on TV. Horror movies were my favorite, but they just seemed too much like real life tonight. A bowl of popcorn sat in my lap, and a warm blanket was wrapped around me, providing a sense of security I desperately needed right now.
A scene came on where the woman found out her boyfriend had cheated, and my chest tightened as my mind drifted to my last relationship. I’d never been able to keep a guy for more than a few months, which wasn’t exactly good for my self-esteem. Daniel had been picture-perfect—charming, charismatic, kind. He was everything you could ever want in a boyfriend and a future husband.
Until he wasn’t.
Six months into our relationship, he told me he loved me. ‘Love’ wasn’t a word I grew up hearing a lot, and it wasn’t something I was accustomed to now in adulthood. I couldn’t say it back, no matter how hard I tried. Mymouth just couldn’t form the words. A week later, he was at my doorstep sobbing, begging for my forgiveness after he slept with a random girl at the bar because he was upset. He claimed his heart was broken, and it was just a ‘big mistake’.
I was used to taking all the blame for my failed relationships. And, truthfully, it probably was my fault. My lack of being able to really commit and get serious was a downfall, but it wasn't one I wanted to work on. I hadn't found a man willing to tear down the walls I'd built around myself.
I broke up with him on the spot and slammed the door in his face. Weeks went by with him calling, texting, and even showing up at my work, begging me to take him back. The last time I saw him was at the coffee shop when he chased me out the door, begging and pleading for another chance. After that, I guess he got the picture because I never heard from him again.
Laughing to myself as I replayed the six months I spent with him, I realized how unfulfilling that relationship was. Or, actually, every relationship I’ve ever had. It lacked the fire and passion I wanted, but I always failed to find. Every man I’d been with had been dull, vanilla, and lacking any kind of spontaneity. Eventually, I resigned myself to being alone, and the vibrator in my bedside drawer had become my boyfriend.
A soft knock sounded at my door, pulling me from my spiraling thoughts, and I jumped at the sudden noise. I glanced at my phone on the coffee table to see the time, realizing it was almost 3 A.M.
My heart pounded as I tiptoed toward the door, wondering who would be here at this time. After last night’s events, I was on edge, even though I knew whoever it was couldn’t get into the building. I looked out the peephole and saw an empty hallway, and hesitantly unlocked the door just far enough to see clearly. I peered around the door frame, seeing no one in sight.
As I was closing the door, something on the floor caught my eye. A small square box sat on my welcome mat, a pink bow tied around the top. I pushed it open a little more, reached down to grab the box, and then shuffled back inside.
