Chapter 2 - Sneaking Home
The next day at the diner felt like an agonizing eternity.
Every time I dropped a plate of fries or refilled a coffee cup, my hands shook violently.
My manager, Brenda, noticed my pale face and asked if I was coming down with the flu.
I seized the opportunity instantly.
“I feel terrible, Brenda, I think I need to go home and lie down,” I lied.
She nodded sympathetically and told me to get some rest.
I clocked out at 3:00 PM, two hours before Marcus expected me home.
The drive to our apartment complex was a blur of traffic lights and rising panic.
I didn't park in my usual spot near our building.
Instead, I parked a block away behind a massive dumpster, ensuring my car was completely hidden from view.
I walked the rest of the way on foot, keeping to the shadows of the tall oak trees.
My heart hammered against my ribs like a trapped bird.
I reached our front door and slowly, silently slid my key into the lock.
I turned it a fraction of an inch at a time, praying the old metal wouldn't click loudly.
The door opened, and I slipped inside, closing it soundlessly behind me.
The apartment was eerily quiet, save for the sound of running water upstairs.
May you like
It was happening right now.
I took off my shoes and crept toward the staircase in my socks.
