"Maybe this is wishful thinkin.' Probably just mindless dreamin.' But if we loved again, I swear I'd love you right..." ♫ Back To December • Taylor Swift.
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"Cherry..."
I race up the steps to my apartment, my heart pounding.
"I'm gonna fuckin' kill you!"
Thump, thump, thump, his footsteps echo in the stairway. I reach my front door and scavenge for my keys in the bottom of my messy bag, knuckle-bumping makeup, pens and candy. God, I need to clean this out. I can find everything except for what I need.
A whimper squeezes out of me, but my throat feels like it's closing up and my surroundings are turning hazy out of fear.
I'm one faulty step away from a slaughter.
"Cherry!"
"Fuck!" Risking it all, I shake the contents out onto the ground. I gasp when I see my sparkling keychain and lunge for my house key, my hands shaking as I fumble to get it into the lock. I glance over my shoulder as I twist it and see his monstrous shadow slumping closer. My eyes widen. Fuck.
"No, no, no, no, no!" I rush into the house and slam the door wide open, backing up into my living room.
Jasper fusses against my chest and I hold him close to soothe him, holding my breath.
Ramone hops off of his cat tree in the corner and meows at my feet. I keep him shielded and protected with my legs, praying he stays behind me.
Silence falls suddenly.
There's not a step, not a voice, not a scuffle.
My body erupts with goosebumps.
This can't be it, this can't be.
We've come too far.
God, please save us...
Just when I've lost all hope-- Harlow appears at the top of the stairs, hunched and grunting with a beet red face. My perfect fluffy, perfect Christmas tree is in-tact and weighing down his arms.
I break out into a smile and scream violently, "Yes! You got it, you got it! Go straight, you're almost there! You're so close! Come on!"
Sweat pours down his brow. His teeth are gritted and with every passing second, the tree tips and sways him, threatening to take a dive into the ground and snap off the beautiful branches.
He looks too exhausted, too worn to take one more step, but he fights for the courage and momentum carries him the rest of the way.
He stumbles into the entryway and his knees give out, his body folding to the ground and breaking the fall of the tree.
