Music was playing and I was too lost in thought that I didn’t hear the doorbell ring. It’s still too early for my family to be home though so I waved it off.
“It’s probably someone selling something.” I said.
They didn’t ring the bell again so I snuggled closer to Alex and kissed him because I don’t know how many more kisses I’ll get.
“What do you want to do today?” Alex asked.
Gizmo jumped on the bed and faced the window.
“I was thinking–”
The doorbell rang again and Gizmo started barking like crazy. God. He jumped off the bed and left my room. He kept barking so I sat up and pulled on my bra and underwear. “Gizmo.” I stood up and pulled on Alex’s shirt again. I walked over to the window and saw no one outside. The doorbell rang again. “God, can’t they take a hint?”
Alex slipped into his sweats and walked down with me.
I picked Gizmo up and told him to be quiet, he whined and obeyed.
When I opened the door, I couldn’t believe who was standing there. My heartbeat stopped and I almost lost control. I felt nothing and I felt everything at this exact moment. I don’t know what to think because he’s here. Standing right there.
I slammed the door shut and tried registering what was going on.
Why? Why is he here?
“Who was it?” Alex asked behind me.
The doorbell rang again and Gizmo started barking.
“Emily, that’s not a nice way to say hello to your father.” David said.
Alex’s eyes widened as he stared at the door then back at me. He reached for the landline and made sure the front door was locked.
“Don’t open the door.” He said.
I don’t know what I want to do. I’m so angry that he showed his face here. And I feel nothing as I think about him. Is that normal? To feel so much and to feel nothing?
I ran upstairs to my room and over to the window. I saw him walking down the street. He turned and looked back toward me then he turned a corner.
I grabbed my phone and sank to the floor. I should call Mom. Garrett. Someone. Who is Alex calling? The police?
I realized I was squeezing Gizmo really hard so I let him go.
Alex came in the room but I didn’t really see him. I was lost in my own head. I don’t know what to do. What to say.
I curled my legs up to my chest and burst into tears.
“Emily.” Alex called out, holding me. I feel him. I should feel something because he’s touching me but I don’t. I feel nothing.
I looked up at him and he wiped the tears from my face.
“How can he just show up like that?” I cried.
“I called Garrett. The police will be here soon and your mom is coming back as fast as they can. He’s gone…when I checked, he wasn’t there.” Alex said.
Just like I won’t be soon enough.
He sat down next to me and let me lean on him. I inhaled his smell but it did nothing to be because David is all I see. He’s ruining me from the inside out. He’s breaking me again.
Make it stop!
The front door opened and footsteps stomped up the stairs. Alex and I turned our heads in confusion. They can’t be back this fast.
“Alex.” Tiffany breathed. She and Liam ran into my room and caught their breaths. “There’s a woman at your house…” Tiffany looked over at me. “She says she’s with your son.” I slowly turned my head back to face Alex. What!?! His son? She said something else but I didn’t make it out. I think it was something between, ‘it’s not his’ or ‘was a good lay.’
Tiffany walked over to me and kneeled down.
“David came by just now.” I whispered.
Her eyes widened and she sprang up.
“What? Who?” Liam asked moving leaned over to see us.
“David.” She said. Tiffany kneeled back down and grabbed me by the shoulders. “Babe, you have to do something because he wants to kill you.” She whispered. I locked eyes on her. What did she say? “He wants to kill you.” She said again.
I glanced at Alex but he’s not looking at us, he’s looking at Liam.
“I have to tell you something and it’s going to sound crazy.” Tiffany said. “I know what he’s going to do. He wants to hurt you. Emily, do you hear me? I’m your guardian angel.”
My heart is beating out of control. That’s not good. I grabbed Alex’s arm. I feel like my head is spinning and I can’t breathe. What the hell is Tiffany saying? Why is she whispering? What the hell is happening?
“I can’t–”
My breaths came out short and fast.
My vision went dark.
I’m falling backwards.
What the hell is happening? David comes back and Tiffany is telling me he wants to kill me? Alex has a son?! This can’t be happening. I was just about to tell him that our lives were going to change. I just found out some news about myself and now this happens.
My eyes closed and I hit something.
Please just be a dream.
When I wake up everything will be back to normal.
Please.
Enough Page 42
