Dreams Can Come True

15. The apartment

POV Elise

The car ride with Bill was filled with the excited energy of a day full of rehearsals. While Bill enthusiastically talked about the musical developments and the atmosphere during the rehearsal day, my thoughts drifted to the unfamiliar territory of my own apartment. A mix of nervousness and excitement bubbled up, wondering what surprises my new place had in store.
In the car, it was cozy, the sound of Bill's voice mingling with the soft background music coming from the speakers. The sun was slowly setting, casting a golden glow in the car. My thoughts about my apartment were interrupted when Bill suddenly said, "Georg has a date with someone." My attention was brought back to the here and now. I decided to put on a poker face and reacted with surprise, "Is that so?" Bill, always alert, saw through my act and asked, "Did he say with whom?" I took his hand, casually resting on the gear shift, and played along, "No, he didn't say. I hope he has a good time." Bill nodded in agreement, and I could see the twinkle of understanding in his eyes.
The car slowed down and parked somewhere in a quiet neighborhood. Butterflies filled my stomach as I realized we had arrived at my new apartment. Bill got out and hurried to my side of the car to open the door for me. Together we walked to the building, and I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. With the key in my hand, I opened the front door, and we stepped inside.

The excitement of discovering my new apartment suddenly turned into a cold shiver of fear when Bill and I opened the front door. The space that was meant to be my home had been transformed into a battlefield of destruction. Bill, as my protector, immediately stood in front of me and didn't let go of my hand. We stared in disbelief at the chaos before us. The cupboard doors were open, drawers were searched through. Everything was destroyed, and Elise's personal belongings were scattered on the floor. An unpleasant pang of fear nestled in my stomach. "Bill," I whispered, and his gaze met mine as he held my hand tightly.
The realization dawned on us. There had been a break-in. Our privacy, my new home, violated by uninvited guests. A sense of vulnerability overwhelmed me as we surveyed the damage. "Damn it, Elise, what happened here?" Bill spoke out what we both were thinking.
We heard nothing but our own breathing and the pounding of our hearts as we slowly inspected the devastation. Thankfully, the intruder was no longer present, but the damage had already been done. Bill looked at me with concern and asked, "Are you okay?" I nodded silently, still in shock from what we found. Bill's grip on my hand grew stronger, a reassuring gesture in this uncertain situation.
We walked through to the bathroom, and there the nightmare got worse. Lipstick had been used to write on the mirror: "I'll find you, Bitch." My breath caught in my throat. We didn't need to exchange words to know that this was David's doing. The threat emanating from this message made me tremble.
Bill's arms closed protectively around me. His touch was like a shield against the evil forces that had wreaked havoc here. "We need to call the police," Bill suggested, but a wave of fear made me hesitate. "No," I said, my mind working rapidly. "What if David has something he can use against me? We don't know what he has to harm me." Bill understood. His concern mirrored mine. "Then we won't call," he said, his hand under my chin. "But we can't stay here." Tears pricked behind my eyes as I stared at the destruction of my new beginning. "I need to start cleaning up right away," I said, tears in my eyes, but Bill stopped me. "No, we need to get out of here as soon as possible. I'll take care of it so this apartment can be rented out again quickly. We won't stay here a second longer than necessary." His words were like a reassuring promise, and I nodded in agreement.

The drive back to Bill's apartment was fraught with tension. His grip on the steering wheel was strong, his gaze determined. "If I ever get my hands on David," Bill muttered threateningly, his jaw clenched. His protective stance brought both reassuring and nerve-wracking feelings. I stared out the window, the city lights flashing by. The return to this world brought happiness, but David's presence cast a dark cloud over my joy. He would stop at nothing to regain his grip on me, and an uneasy shiver ran down my spine as I thought of the painful memories of his obsessive behavior.
Bill's hand rested protectively on my leg. "Elise, I'll protect you with my life, my dear," he assured me, his eyes focused on the road. "I won't let David come near you." A faint smile played on my lips, filled with love and trust. "That bastard has caused enough pain already," I replied. I took his hand, brought it to my lips, and gave it a tender kiss.
Bill pressed on the accelerator again, his eyes focused on the road. In the shelter of his loving presence, I found comfort. Whatever came our way, we would face it together.