It wasn't me

Chapter 8

Rose

I think that is the moment when it actually hit me that I was working in a mental institution.

As always Felix always made me question what he was saying after every session and sometimes even if I was paranoid and just imagining things, but I couldn’t possibly because the sounds also accompanied his cat like smile and in contrast with that, his deep voice.

After each day of work I was always looking forward to getting home and jumping into a hot shower then watching a movie or whatever.

As I went to open my front door, under the weight of my boot something crumbled. I looked down and there it was, another envelope. My heart was pounding in my ears and I couldn’t feel bile rising in my throat. A million questions were in my head: ‘is it from the same person?’ ‘Is this an actual stalker or just Jay playing with me?’ ‘Was it another butterfly?’ I got the answer only to the last question and I was right. Inside the envelope, beside the note there was a dead butterfly. It’s wings were blue this time, not white like the last one. 

“Hot shower and then we watch criminal minds together? Sounds more than good to me, my little butterfly.”

One thing was clear, I had to do something about it and also what problem did this guy had with butterflies? I knew that was the nickname he gave me but still, he shouldn’t kill them like that.

I went back down to the lobby and to the old man that was supposed to keep some sort of security in the building.

“Hi…hello. I was wondering if you could help me with something?” I asked politely.

“Eh?” He just looked annoyed at my audacity to interrupt his turkis drama on the computer screen.

“I recieved an envelope in the front of my door, do you have any idea who might have been? Looked? Or if anybody asked for me?”

“No.” He simply cut me off and ignored me.

This was going nowhere and I had to do the best next thing I could think of. Call Jay. I was hoping that he would be in town and he would let me crash at his place.

The phone rings once…twice and as if on cue

“Yo Posie, what’s up? Why you calling so late?” He asked me with a voice that showed me that he was in a special good mood.

“Jay, can I crash at yours tonight?” I asked not wanting to give too many details.

“Sure, always. But what happened?” He asked now a bit more worried.

Truth was I never really asked Jay for these kind of things since I knew how much he loved his freedom but Tim was out of the country again and I didn’t want to even think about sleeping in my apartment.

“A problem with some leakage.” I lied. “Can you pick me up though? No bus goes in your direction at this hour.”

“Yeah, of course. I’ll be at yours in 10.”

I thanked him and sat down on the floor of the lobby while I was wating like a puppy for my rescuer.

While I was wating for Jay to come and pick me up I couldn’t help but think about how could this man have not seen my stalker or someone just remotely suspicious walking into the bulding. Was he that careless?

Luckily for me I have heard Jay’s car being parked outside and went to greet him and get into the car. The beautiful black car, with a black leather interior with wine red stitching was complimenting the board lights that were changing in tone with the music.

“So what happened Posie? Water pipes you said?” He asked just as happy as he did on the phone.

“Yeah…something like that. Did you have plans tonight? Sorry if I ruined them.” I asked feeling a bit bad for being this paranoid.

“I was invited to a party with the guys but fuck that…you’re more important. More important than some alcohol.” He said while looking straight ahead and gripping the steering wheel a bit harder.

The journey to his place was fairly quiet with only the music keeping the car somewhat animated and not completely silent.
Once in his apartment the guilt of not telling him was eating me alive. I had to tell someone, him.

“J….” I began a bit unsure, supporting myself on the kitchen counter. “I have to tell you something.”

As if on cue, his phone became the most unimportant thing in the world and he was now focused on me. As if he could sense that something was wrong, a reason to why we've been silent the whole car ride to his apartment.

“You’re not pregnant are you?” He joked. Well, it was nice to see that he still had it in him.

“Ew no. That would be….anyways. I wanted to tell you that…the problem in my apartment weren’t the water pipes. I have a stalker and today I recieved my second note.”

He was now completely confused amd shocked at the same time.

“What in the actual hell Rose?! Who? Why?”

“That’s the thing. I have no clue.”

“What are the notes saying?” He asked and I could see how anger was rising in him.

“There’s always a dead butterfly in the envelope alongside a note. The note from today said something like ‘Hot shower and then we watch criminal minds together? Sounds more than good to me, my little butterfly’.”

The silence that engulfed his apartment could be cut with a knife. Neither of us said anything, just letting the words sink in.

I felt like everything was too much in the moment. This stupid situation, the stress from work and everything that built up over time it was all coming down crumbling.

I didn’t even realize I was crying until I felt Jay hugging me, letting me cry on his shirt while softly caressing my hair.

“We’re gonna find him Rosie…and you’re gonna be fine.” He whispered and placed a soft kiss on my hair.