THE BOOGEYMAN

CHAPTER SEVEN

Ten o’clock couldn’t  come soon enough. I’m waiting outside the hospital, I can’t bring myself to go inside, everything reminds me Sal. I know a year seems like a long time to grieve and you’d be right, it’s just because I also came so close to death, I find it hard to go inside. Everything reminds me of that night, the paint coating, the seats, the atmosphere. It all holds so much weight that I’m actually ashamed of myself.

I wish I could let this fear go, lock it away and never let it resurface but when I felt him grab me and I could myself running out air, the only thought I had was, I’m going to die. I’m amazed at how so many people can work in an environment like that. Surrounded by death everyday and still come home to a loved one with a smile on their face. It almost as if they’re acting or block it out because having to face the horror of it all would be to much for them.

I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to bring myself to go inside again, it’s still to much. I know people look at me and see this hero, but honestly, I don’t feel like a hero. I feel like a coward. They all think I’m like this Superman because I saved Daisy.

But the truth is I didn’t save Daisy, Sal saved us both and I watched him die to an animals rage, to a man who, I’m not sure is even human. So many thoughts race around my mind everyday, there isn’t a day O haven’t thought about Sal. How he helped me settle in, he gave me a job and a foundation to work.

Oh here comes Faye. She looks happy to see me. Her blue work uniform, her hair pinned back in at ponytail. Her smile lights up the reception, from what I can see anyways. She’s approaching me like she wants to tell me something. I can feel it.

“Hey, listen some of the staff want to have dinner tonight, here, at the hospital” she says almost as if she’s asking me to join.
“That’s cool, enjoy yourself” I say nicely.

“Would you like to join us?” she asks.
There it is, the dreaded question. This sucks, I want to, more than anything but I can’t. Not yet anyway.

“I can’t go inside, I’m not ready.”

“Hey it’s ok. Come on, I have an idea” she says excitedly.

Faye takes my hand and rushes me to her car. I should probably ask where we are going but I like the secrecy of it all. She’s been driving for nearly fifteen minutes. Faye eventually pulls up to a clearing in the trees. It over looks the whole town, it’s beautiful.

I can’t believe I never knew this was here. I suppose, I never had a reason to come this way. Faye steps out of the car, she slides herself up onto hood and taps for me to join her.

This is nice, just the two of us, sitting here watching the town below us, no one to bother us.

“Nice, right? I come up here whenever need to be alone. Takes you out of the Halloween of it all.”

“It really does, you know I’ve lived here for a few years and I never knew about this place” I say.

I can feel her hand move on top of mine, our fingers interlock. I rub my thumb off her finger, she looks at me and smiles. The stars are out in force tonight. They light up the night sky like a blanket of light. I feel like I’m surrounded by peace. This is probably the first time I’ve felt relaxed in a long time. I can feel Faye moving closer on the car, she whispers in my ear.

“Hey, you want to play a game?”

“Sure” I say softly.

“Ok so, first question. Who was your date to the Prom.”

“I didn’t go to Prom. Ladies choice” I say embarrassed.

Faye looks at me stunned. It’s almost as if she can’t believe it. What can’t she believe, that I didn’t have a date or I couldn’t get a date?

“So you’ve never had a Prom dance?” she asks curious.

“Unfortunately not.”

I can see her looking at me, our eyes meet in a gaze, it’s like I’m in a trance. Her eyes carry so much beauty.

“I won’t stand for this, come on” she says excitedly.

Faye slides off her car, the song of choice is Ed Sheeran, Thinking Out Loud. I actually love this song, big Ed Sheeran fan. She extends her hand as I float off of the car to her. She lets me take the lead, she places my hands on her hips as she drapes her arms around my neck, holding palm to palm. We glide ever so softly along the gravel, almost if we’re floating. So this is what Prom felt like, I don’t think I’ve ever danced with someone before.

Faye rests her head on my shoulders, we continue to dance. I can feel her heart beat next to my chest, I’m sire mine is doing somersaults right now. She grips a hold of me, tighter than before, almost as if she’s afraid I’m going to fall or run away. She looks at me, her eyes catching the moonlight, almost as if she’s trapped it’s brightness. Three minutes has never past so quick, I wish it was endless.

“On behalf of Prom women everywhere I’d like to thank you for the dance and this.”

Faye leans in kissing me on the lips. Our first or second kiss, depending on how you view it. Her lips are soft, I’ve been pulled into my feeling for her more. As if I could be, I thought I was at it’s peak. Oh my God, am I in love? I think I’m in love. I wonder if Faye is there yet. Could just be me? God I hope not. For the first time in a long time, I’m genuinely happy.

Our lips part, she hugs me. Her arms wrap around me like a blanket. We continue to dance, without the music. Am I in heaven? I have butterflies but like, different. I feel different. My arms leave her waist, now wrapped around her completely.

“Come on, let’s go home” she says softly.

We get back into the car, she drives another fifteen minutes until she reaches her house. We go inside a she leads me to the bedroom. Wow, this is really going to happen.