Together From the Start

TWENTY-FOUR

Chapter Twenty-four| Destiny

"Mom," I spoke into the phone. "I think he is back."

"Whose back, Destiny?"

"My father."

"What would make you say that? You know he's locked away, honey."

"Just a feeling, I've been going mad, having these nightmares. Constantly thinking about that day, I just feel so anxious all of the time."

"Listen to me, baby," She takes a deep breath. "No one is watching you, you are safe, you are healthy, and you are secure."

My eyes water at my urge of trying to hold back my tears. I take a few deep breaths, calming myself and my thoughts. You'll be fine, Des.

Maybe I'm just reliving all of this because my birthday is coming up, but that still wouldn't explain who left that note on my door.

...

Dahlia

"Maybe, you should just tell her, Dahlia," Diana suggested.

"I can't, Diana, I can't lose her again. It's better that we just handle all of this under the radar with the court system." Running my fingers through my hair, "I won't let him harm me or my children again.

"I understand, but you can tell the girl is extremely paranoid, especially when all of this is popping up again around her birthday, she is traumatized."

"Don't you think that I know that?" I whimper, "She has suffered enough."

"Okay, but you would risk her trust with us, by doing this behind her back, just to not lose her. That doesn't make any sense."

"Well, I don't need to explain anything to you about my family."

She scoffs, "Y'know, I may not be her parent, but I've seen that girl suffer, just like you. I just want to see what is best for her. But..." She holds her hands up in defeat, "who am I to tell you?"

She exits the room.

I huff in frustration.

...

Destiny

I let out a slow grunt as I let down the weight, I've taken accustomed to going to the gym when I'm frustrated. It helps me clear my mind when there is too much going on in my life. Everyone keeps telling me, everything is going to be okay. That I'm just paranoid, but I know when something feels off, I'm not crazy.

I've spent enough time in therapy and family consulting with my mother and mother to know that something is wrong. I need to let my sub-conscience rest. And the only way for that to happen is if I figure out what is going on with him and his sentencing.

Potato chips on my keyboard as I munch down on them, searching through arrest records in my hometown. An old article popped up.

SOUTH CAROLINA FATHER SHOOTS HIS DAUGHTER IN FAMILY HOME.

Yeah, yeah, nothing new here.

Micheal K. Thompson arrest records, I type in the search bar.

Suprisingly there aren't that many Micheal K. Thompson's with arrest records in my county.

I click on my father's mugshot, as the records load, I stare into the dead, cold eyes of my father. A title he doesn't deserve, my eyes water while taking in the pictures. Gross stumbl, low redshot eyes, with pale skin.