Hidden Truths, Burning Hearts

Night out

I was breathing heavily as I hid under the bed in my room. I could hear his footsteps outside calling my name angrily. Telling me to come out not to taunt him. Tears were filling my eyes as I thought of the things he would do to me if he found me. But I had no where to go anymore. He found me. He found my houss, my only safe place.

He came inside the room and walked slowly around the bed.
"This is your last chance Amelia! If you come out now I won't make you suffer as much when I kill you!" His low threatening voice said to me.
I stopped breathing that moment and shut my eyes tightly praying that he wouldn't look under the bed for me.

I opened my eyes when I heard the door close shut and I couldn't see his legs around the bed anymore. I let out a hopeful sigh and just then I felt his strong grip on my legs as he pulled me from under the bed.

I let out a scream and woke up on my bed finding it hard to catch my breath. I looked around my bedroom and saw no one.

It was a dream! Only a dream. He isn't here. He isn't. I said to myself over and over as I started to take deep breaths.

Tears were threatening to fall from my eyes as I thought how I would never outrun him in my mind. No matter how much I tried.

I saw the time on my bedside clock it was 4:18am. I knew I wouldn't be able to fall asleep anymore. So I got off the bed. Took a long shower to calm my nerves. I went in the kitchen to get some coffee. With the mug in my hand, I went out the back door to my little porch where I had created a sitting area for me to pass the time. The sky was getting the purple hue of sunrise as I settled on the chair with the coffee on my hand. Summer was coming to an end, so the early mornings were a bit chilly. I enclosed both my hands around the mug to get cozy.

It was the day of our night out with Chloe and her friends. I was dreading it as the evening approached. Chloe had told me to be ready by six. She was picking me up from my house and the others were coming to the place directly.

I put on my turtle neck knee length dress. The teal colour always compliments my skin tone. I put on my wrist watch. I ran my fingers delicately along the leather band of the watch, as I saw the time again, just before six. It's my mother's watch. It's the only memorable thing I have from her that I could take before I had to move to city to escape the monster of my nightmares.

I let out a shuddered breath when I heard the honking outside. Time to go. I thought.
I had already gave Leo his dinner so I wouldn't have to worry about him. I took my purse and coat and got out the door, locking it and double checking it.

"Hurry up! Get in. " Chloe said with a grin from the driver's seat. I went to get in the passenger side.
"Are you excited?"
"Can't wait!" I said to her. To get back home I thought. "You look beautiful by the way!" I added.

"I've got to dress the part!"
We reached in the establishment in 30 minutes. It was close to the new gallery Mark was getting ready to open.

The place was bright and beautiful. We walked towards a booth where Sam, one of Chloe's friends, was already waiting.
"Do you girls always have to be late getting dressed!?" He said as he stood up to greet us.
"I'm the birthday girl, Sam. I have to look pretty!"
"Right. My fault."
"Anyway, you know Amelia right?" Chloe said pointing towards me.
"Hi.." I said with a small wave.
"Yeah I think I've seen you with Chloe a few times at the hospital. How are you doing?"
"Thank you. I'm good."

We sat down on the opposite side of Sam.
When I didn't say anything, Chloe said,
"Sam here is our youngest surgical resident." while she nudged me from under the table. Encouraging me to make a move.

"Really? That's so nice." I said looking at Sam then at Chloe again, as I stomped on her foot while smiling at her to drop it.

"Well it's not something I like to brag about. But I graduated early. 2 years earlier than most. Where did you go to college by the way?"

The question stung. I wanted to go to college badly to get a degree in art. But my situation was not in favour of my plans.
But as it turned out you don't need a degree to be creative. So I made it work with what I had in me.
And
"Well the work I do doesn't require a degree so I never bothered to go to college."
"And what do you do? Paint with colours?"
He said that with a laugh like my work was worth nothing. I clenched my teeth. I mean it wasn't saving lives but I held my works at a high regard.

"Well Amelia is an amazing artist. Several galleries display her works. And her manager is opening a new one, only devoted to her. And it pays great! If I could, I would have happily traded my college degree and the hefty student loan for the talent she has." Chloe said as she put an hand around my shoulder.

Before he could say anything else. Some people came over and greeted Chloe with happy birthday. There were three of them, Samantha, Richard and Tony. All of them were colleagues of Chloe.

When everyone was accounted for, they called the waiter to place order. They all started their conversation and I constantly felt out of place amongst them even though Chloe tried to include me a few times. They all talked away while I for the most part finished my dinner in silence. I tried to pay my share of bill but Chloe said that it was her treat and I shouldn't bother. So I gave up.

All of them agreed to go to the backside of the restaurant where they have a club, to have some drinks. I was ready to go home and reluctant at first but then I had to agree to Chloe's birthday girl antics.

"I hate you." I muttered to her as we got inside the club.
"I know. I love you too." She said with a cheeky smile.
There wasn't any blasting music playing or people grinding each other on the dance floor as I was hoping to see.

Rather the place had live music playing and some people were dancing while others were lazing around the bar talking, drinking and having a good time.

As I was looking around, my eyes landed on those green eyes that I had been searching for in everywhere I went for the past week. And his eyes had found mine!