I try to swallow past the desert in my throat."C-can you please come over?"My eyes stay fixed on the door, half-expecting it to burst open any second.Every shadow in my peripheral vision becomes a threat.
"What's wrong?"The playfulness vanishes from her tone, replaced by sharp concern.
"I-I..."My voice cracks."I'm scared."
"What—I'm on my way, honey."Keys jingle in the background."I'll be there in fifteen minutes."
The call ends but I can't lower the phone.Can't move.Can't breathe properly.I draw my knees to my chest, making myself smaller, and rock back and forth.My heart pounds so hard it hurts, each beat a desperate attempt to escape my ribcage.Tears track down my cheeks, soaking into the sleeve of my robe, but I can't lift my hand to wipe them away.Can't think.Can't—
Time stretches like taffy until a knock breaks through my panic-induced fog."Alisha?It's Amanda.Open up, honey."
I force myself to stand on wobbly legs, checking the peephole before opening the door.Amanda's concerned face comes into focus as she steps inside, closing and locking the door behind her.
"What's wrong?"
My lip trembles as fresh tears spill over."He found me!"
"Who?"
With a shaking hand, I point to the letter still lying on the floor.Amanda picks it up, and I watch her jaw clench as she reads the five words that have shattered my fragile sense of safety.
My fingers tangle in my hair, tugging at the strands."I have to move, Amanda."
She guides me to my chair, her grip gentle but firm."Come, take a seat, and I'll make you a cup of tea."She hurries to my kitchen, the familiar sounds of her moving around somehow both comforting and surreal.The clink of cup against saucer, the whoosh of boiling water, the soft thud of the tea canister—normal sounds in a world that's suddenly tilted sideways.
After placing the steaming cup on the table, she sits beside me."Alisha, I understand you don't want to, but we need to call the police.This is going too far.They need to find this asshole."
A bitter laugh escapes me."I regret ever going to Six-Pack.If I had stayed home, this wouldn't have happened."
"You don't know that.It may have occurred in another bar or another day.So don't beat yourself up about it.What happened isn't your fault."She hands me my phone."Now, make the call, or I will."Her tone is commanding yet gentle, laced with the kind of love that won't take no for an answer.
I give her a sidelong glance."You sound exactly like Bella and Emma this morning."
"That's because we're your friends.We love you, and we want to help you get through this, but you need to accept help.It's okay to say you're not okay.You hold up a strong front to the outside, but behind that wall, you're afraid."
I want to argue, but she holds up her finger, stopping me."Do it."
With trembling fingers, I dial.Each ring feels like an eternity until finally—
"Boston Police Department.How can I help you?"
Amanda's hand finds mine, squeezing gently.When I don't speak, she squeezes harder, grounding me in the present.
"H-hello, my name is Alisha McQueen.I'm calling because I've received a threat letter at my house from someone who assaulted me a few months ago.
3
COLE
I love this time of day.The city hasn't fully woken, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the sky's masterpiece—strokes of crimson bleeding into cotton-candy clouds.Steam rises from my espresso, curling into the crisp morning air as I lean against my balcony's baluster.Perfect silence.Perfect solitude.Perfect—
My phone vibrates.Fuck.
"Morning, Mother."
"Cole, darling.About the dinner party next week—"
"No."I drain my espresso, the bitter liquid doing nothing to wash away my irritation."I'm not interested in meeting another 'perfect match.'"
