Fill My Lungs | J. Todd ✔

[15] Trouble

Valerie was on her shift at the supermarket as she had been feeling better after taking the medicines Jay had brought for her. She was at the counter, her mask covering her features as she prepared the receipts for the queues of customers methodically.

However, as she was working, she suddenly got a very instinctive feeling that alarmed her. She felt as if she saw a certain face among the crowds of people there and it made her blood freeze as she tried to recall those features.

He shouldn't be at the supermarket, she thought, shaking her head slightly as she went back to calculating the total for the woman waiting in line. He was supposed to be in jail.

She got cautious as she looked around again but didn't find him. Perhaps it was just a hallucination, she tried to convince herself, perhaps it was someone who looked a little bit like that person.

Because if he really was there, then she would get in trouble.

Still uneasy about the situation, when her shift ended, she called Sarah but found her number going to voicemail. She recalled that her friend had planned to go on a date with Marc so calling her wouldn't be a good idea.

Somewhat reluctantly, she went back to the staff area to change out of her uniform and pick up her bag from the lockers.

She changed into her casual clothes and was about to step out of the stall but paused upon hearing the distinct sound of footsteps. She waited for the sound to die down then creaked the door open to check.

There was no one out there except her. She let out the breath she was holding and stepped out, going to the sink. As she washed her face, she stilled to see a reflection behind her.

Before she could react, the man spun her around, grabbing her arms tightly as he held her against the sink. The sound of the tap water running could still be heard, muffling the gasp that escaped Valerie to see him.

"G... Garrett..."

He loosened his grip on her arms, seeing that she was trembling, "long time no see, Val. I expected you to be shocked to see me but didn't think you'd be so terrified."

"Wh-why are you here?" She stammered, rubbing her arms that he held painfully earlier.

"Relax, I just want to talk."

"Th... This is not the time nor the place," she spoke up, slowly edging away from him, "I work here. And you can't come to the staff toilets like this."

"Then tell me the time and place so we can settle our issues there," he didn't let her edge further as his arm was held up by the wall beside her blocking her way.

"Just go," she remarked, trying to calm her shaking self, "I don't want to do anything with you. And I don't want to talk to you. Ever."

His eyes flashed and she drew back in alarm, her body pressing up against the wall. "You should have thought about that before filing your complaint. I would have left you for good but you messed things up."

The sound of the door opening was heard and she took her chance, pushing him away as she ran out, colliding with her colleague.

"Valerie, what happened?"

But she took her arm and didn't let her go in either as she brought her to the main area.

"Valerie? You're shaking," the young woman got worried to see her like that.

"Tell... Tell the security to check the toilets. Someone was in there."

"Must have been a worker..."

"No, he wasn't. Emily, please, tell the manager."

"Okay fine, sit here."

But Valerie didn't want to wait there for even a moment. Her shift had ended so she quickly punched in her clock-out time and then left to go to her apartment.

She was shaken terribly by what had happened and tried to call Sarah again, not wanting to be alone at home. She could have called Jason to come over if only he was in town but he too had to leave for a project.

The doors and windows were locked shut but she still felt terrified. If Garrett was out of jail that meant he wasn't going to back off until he achieved what he intended.

He was her uncle's son and she knew him from childhood. After her parents died in a car crash, her custody had been given to their only living relative. As a result, she had lived a considerable part of her early life with her Uncle Harold and his son Garrett.

Harold lost his job and constantly consuming alcohol rid him of his stability and health. He became abusive towards both his son and Valerie and one day Garrett got fed up with the abuse and pushed him off the roof.

It resulted in Harold getting paralyzed and a case being filed against Garrett. The case wasn't pressed further as Harold himself withdrew charges. But Garrett's behavior only worsened and when Valerie got hurt as a result, she filed a complaint against him.

Then she didn't see him again for years as he had been taken away and sent to a correctional facility. She too had moved out of her uncle's place and rented an apartment with her friend Sarah.

But now he was out of jail and he probably blamed her for being sent there. It terrified her that he would hurt her again and that once, he wouldn't spare her.

She didn't want to disturb Jason or Sarah but she felt scared all alone. And when the doorbell rang, she locked her bedroom door, not even going out to check who it was.

A short while later, her phone beeped and she picked it up, hoping to see a text from Sarah. Instead, it was from an unknown number.

If you keep avoiding me, I'll force you to talk and you won't like it one bit. So before I change my mind, come to the bar tonight. Or else, you'll be responsible for the consequences yourself.

She could see it was a text from Garrett and the fact that her doorbell rang again made her feel more anxious, thinking he was right outside.

Don't come in here. I'll meet you at the bar, she typed back with trembling fingers as the knocks on her apartment's front door got louder.

Soon as the message got delivered, the knocking stopped and silence engulfed her again. There was no reply to her text but it was clear that she would be in a lot of trouble whether she went to see him or not.

***