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Maybe when I’m in another country on the other side of the world, the feeling of being perpetually watched will fade.
It’s never going to fade. I’m going to spend the rest of my life thinking that there is a deranged criminal after me because there is.
At some point, he must get bored.
I put the bag on the counter before going through my check of the apartment. I turn on all the lights and open all the closets. I get on my knees and check under the couch before pulling all the curtains out of the way.
No people are waiting to jump out at me. Nobody is here to tie me up and drag me away. Plastic sheets are not being pinned to the walls before my throat is slit.
My stomach growls as I check the locks one last time, just to be sure.
The rumbling gets louder as I do another round of the apartment, open all the cupboard doors, and check under the bed again.
“I know, baby, we’re going to get some fruit soon.” I grin and rest my hand on my stomach for a moment before putting away the groceries.
As soon as everything is put away, I get to work slicing strawberries.
Humming to myself, I cut off the tops before slicing them down the center and tossing them in a bowl with a bit of sugar.
In moments like this, it’s easy to pretend that my life is normal and going to get back on track one day.
I can picture what it will be like in the future, slicing strawberries as an afternoon snack while my son or daughter stands beside me. We would be in a cozy house with massive windows, letting in all the light of whichever countryside I decide to settle in.
We would spend days out in the sun and nights by the fire, having a good time and not worrying about anyone chasing us.
I smile, realizing that even after losing everything, I have gained a new family.
I just need to make it a little longer in this apartment.
As I slice the last strawberry, my burner phone starts to ring. I pick up the phone, Matt’s phone number shining bright.
My breath hitches as I slide my thumb across the screen. “Matt?”
“Rose.” He chuckles, amused with himself for one reason or another.
I don’t bother asking what’s entertaining him. It wouldn’t be worth it. He’s thinking about the night I came to him in tears and begged him to help me.
The bastard charged me double his usual rate, but it was a rush job.
“How are you doing?” I stir the strawberries in with the sugar, leaving it for a couple of minutes to get juicy.
“You don’t need to worry about the pleasantries. This is a business call.”
My heart leaps in my chest, a tiny bit of hope appearing. “Do you have it ready?”
“Even better. I have it ready, and I will deliver it and a plane ticket to the country of your choosing tomorrow if you get the rest of the money you owe me.”
“I have the other half sitting in an envelope with greedy bastard written on it,” I say, my tone teasing as I lean against the counter. “Thank you again for doing this so quickly.”
He hums, something beeping in the background. “Don’t thank me when you’re paying me, Rose. If you’re going to survive in the world, you’ve found yourself in, you better get a lot meaner a lot faster.”
“I doubt that’s going to happen.” I giggle, feeling good for the first time since before my father died. I’m going to be able to leave this hell behind and start fresh with my baby.
Matt clicks his tongue. “That’s a shame. I would hate for whoever is hunting you to catch up with you and kill you because you can’t take care of yourself.”
“I got this far, didn’t I?”
Matt scoffs. “Don’t get cocky yet. You’re not out of the woods.”
