Page 53 of Written in the Stars
SERENITY
My God, it’s so weird.
I’ve only been gone from here for only a few months, but it feels like a lifetime ago. How can it be that in such a short amount of time this whole 900 square foot space feels so… odd. It no longer feels like home. The only place that feels like home is Glimerton, with Zander and Lissa. Here and now feels like strange territory.
I want to make this as quick as possible so that I can get back to Zander’s before the end of the day. He needs me, and I know for certain that I need him.
As I step further into the apartment, I call out for Walter. “Hello? Walter? Are you here?” He should still be at the law firm for a while, but I want to make sure. I purposely came here at this time because I know that on Fridays, he’s been staying at the office late. Or maybe since we are no longer together and he doesn’t have to hide his affair anymore, he has no reason to screw around at work. Literally. Plus, I’m more than ready to get fully situated in Glimerton; I want no more ties to Narrowville, Walter, or anything else from my past life.
I throw my keys onto the kitchen counter, and as I do, a handwritten note in blue ink hanging on the refrigerator catches my eye. I pick it up and begin reading.
My dearest Serenity,
I realize I did you wrong, and I’m truly sorry. I know you’re mad, or at least you were mad when you took off and left Narrowville to go stay with your sister. I know why you did it. I get why. I understand I hurt you, and you probably never wanted to hear my voice again.
What I don’t understand, what I can’t for the life of me even begin to comprehend, is how you can turn right around and get tangled up in your own mess. Not more than a few weeks of being apart and you already started fucking someone else. A fireman, no less. How could you go from a lawyer who makes millions of dollars to a low-life fireman? Beats the hell out of me. At least when I messed around, I went to a younger version of what you used to be. But that’s another story.
I know we are meant to be together, and if it’s the last thing I do, I’m going to get you back. Because it’s not even a question of how… it’s a question of when, and as you’re reading this note, the time has come. So any stupid little fairytale you had in your mind about playing the victim whose fiance cheated on her, and finding your happily ever after with the help, you can just kiss it goodbye. You belong to me, Serenity. You are mine and have always been. If I sleep around with other women, it doesn’t even matter. You and I are forever bound together, and one way or another, I’m going to have the last word.
Just let these last five words linger in your mind: You belong to me, Serenity.
I’ll be seeing you soon.
Your Husband Walter Zeller
Iball up the piece of paper in my hand. How could he think of such things? How could he possibly believe that I would ever even begin to forgive him after what he did and what he’s saying in his letter…. like he can just fuck whoever he wants behind my back, and I should be okay with it. No way. Not a chance. My husband, Walter, my ass… Wait…
I uncrumple the piece of paper and go directly to the end of his note. “Your husband Walter Zeller?” I squint my eyes, trying to see if I missed something, anything. “Your husband Walter Zell—” I gasp. “YHWZ… oh my God!” All of a sudden, it finally hits me. I can’t believe I missed it all along and I didn’t realize it sooner. He had always called himself that when we first got engaged, and now he’s using it as his signature.
As the realization hits, a cold sweat sweeps down the length of my body. Those creepy messages… they were all from Walter. “Oh, my God… how could I have missed it?”
“Took you long enough to realize, baby.”
I spin around on my heels at the sound of his voice. What the fuck? I didn’t even know he was here. I called out to him when I arrived, but he hadn’t answered. He’s eerily too close to me, even though he’s a few feet away. “Walter!”
He smiles widely, but even now, his smile looks sinister. “Hi, sweetheart.”
His term of endearment disgusts me. “Walter? It was you?” I take in his grim appearance. His sinister smile as he steps closer, snickering, sends chills down my spine. He looks down at the ground before him.
With each step he takes closer to me, I cautiously take a step back. I don’t like any of this. How the hell did he know my every move? How did he know I would come here now? Was he seriously watching every step I took?
He grabs his chin, still snickering. “Well, shit, who did you think it was?” His eyes lift to meet mine, and there’s an empty stare in them.
Who did I think it was? Not him, that’s for certain. I mean, sure, he was a douchebag, lying, cheating fiance, but a stalker? No. I never would have thought he’d be capable of such things.
Then again, never did I think before he would have cheated on me. I thought he was loyal. I thought he was faithful. I honestly thought he loved me. But he obviously didn’t. And now that I know it was him all along, watching me, stalking me, and sending me those creepy messages, I don’t know what else he is capable of.
One thing’s for sure, I don’t like the way this feels. The entire atmosphere is wrong. The aura in the air just isn’t sitting right with me. Being a true crime fanatic, this is setting off all types of bells in my head, all the alarms and warning signs to get out of here as soon as possible.
He finally stops dead in his tracks. “Well? I want to know. Who did you honestly think it was? There’s no one else in the world who wants you, deserves you, more than me.”
I swallow thickly. “I-I didn’t think it was you.” Fuck. I can’t look weak to him right now. Stuttering will not help me, and he’s going to know I’m scared. I can’t let him know that, even though I’m sure he senses it. That’s why he’s smiling and snickering the way he is. If fear is going to be that evident, he is going to use it to his advantage, and I can’t let him do that.
But I really am scared, because if I had no idea Walter was capable of all those things before, then did I ever really know him at all?
Who did I spend all those years with? Who was I sleeping with? Who was the man I thought I loved? I don’t recognize him, and now, I don’t know him even more so than before. Sure, when I found out he had cheated on me, I didn’t recognize him then. But now? Now it’s even worse. This version of Walter is a complete stranger to me, and I feel like I’m in terrible danger.
He bursts out in laughter, his head snaps back. “Damn, I’m good!”
