Stalker

Chapter 7

Jennie

Before heading to the farmer's market, I stop by my apartment and change into something more comfortable. I'm still shaking with fury. How dare she suddenly become so damn nosy about my life! I've worked hard to keep certain things to myself. And now, I feel like she's prying into something that needs to remain shut. If she pulls open the parts of my past I keep contained, I'll lose my mind.

I don't want to remember the years I spent with Kai.

I don't want to recall how he went from possessive boyfriend, to monster, to my worst nightmare. I don't want to think about the things he made me do. Things that still embarrass and horrify me. Things that would tear apart everything I've worked so hard to achieve if they ever got out.

Hot, furious tears are spilling from my eyes. I hastily swipe them away as I leave to do my weekly shopping. Lisa, my stupid boss, has grabbed my now normal life and given it a hard shake. I don't like that she's rattled some memories inside me that I prefer to keep hidden.

In an effort to block her annoyingly gorgeous face from my mind, I think about my new job. I'm eager to learn something different. On the way to the market, I pass by the post office where my PO box is located. I check it but don't find any correspondence. That both hurts me and relieves me. The last few cards I sent, I foolishly included my PO box address. I pull the sealed envelope that holds ten crisp one hundred dollar bills inside a funny card out of my purse and slip it into the outgoing box.

Just once I'd like to receive a letter back. To be acknowledged. But that would invite problems. Problems I don't need, no matter how much my heart aches.

The walk to the market is cold. I doubt we'll have snow, but it looks like a chilly rain is imminent. I'll need to hurry with my shopping today.

Normally, I spend several hours at the market as I take my time and enjoy the day. But today, I'm too wound up. My tension is like the cold wintery rain that will most likely hit before I make it back to my place. Whipping all around me and stressing me out. I grunt all the way back to my building with my haul.

It's times like these when I wish I had actual friends. People I could chat with and talk about my day. A girlfriend to groan to about my annoying boss, my terrible drunk night with my future boss, the fear my psycho ex will hunt me down, and all of the other awful things in my life.

Unfortunately, I don't.

The moment I feel the first drop of cold rain on my forehead, a shudder of defeat ripples through me. In this big bad world, I'm all alone. By nature, I'm not normally a crier. But today, I let it go. I sob as I run three long blocks through the soaking rain with my arms full of groceries. My teeth are chattering by the time I reach my building. Out front sits a shiny white Range Rover that seems to sparkle in the pouring rain. I suddenly wish I owned a car. I suddenly wish I lived somewhere with a garage, reliable heating, and tenants who aren't drug dealers.

I stomp through the puddles and seek refuge in the dilapidated building. Lisa was right. I live in the ghetto. This place is all I can afford by the time I send away most of my wages. It's sad. My entire life is just pathetic.

Eventually, I make it up to the third floor but I'm exhausted and soaked to the bone. So when I see a familiar face, I'm too tired to fight. In some stupid way, I feel a sense of relief.

"What are you doing here?" I mumble as I rummage through my purse for my keys.

Lisa frowns at me. She's holding a folder tucked under one arm and a dripping umbrella in her other. The woman still looks every bit as sexy as she did at breakfast. Too bad she's such an asshole. "Can we talk a minute?"