Obsessed 2

Chapter 1

It had been nearly seventeen years since Sharon Charles had lived through one of the most harrowing experiences of her life. The encounter with Lisa, the unhinged temp who had obsessed over her then-husband Derek, had left lasting scars. Scars that had eventually contributed to the end of their marriage. But despite everything, Sharon had managed to find her footing again. She was now a single mother, co-parenting her teenage son Kyle with Derek, who had since remarried and was expecting a new baby girl. Sharon had also returned to school, earning a degree that opened up new opportunities for her. She was doing well—thriving, even—but there was one area of her life that remained untouched since her divorce: her love life.
Kyle, her pride and joy, was a high achiever both in the classroom and on the field. As a junior in high school, he was already getting attention from college scouts for his talent in football. Sharon often marveled at how quickly her son had grown, how he'd evolved into a young man with a bright future ahead of him. He was a mama's boy through and through, always protective of her and mindful of the challenges she'd faced raising him. They were close, as close as a mother and son could be, and Sharon often found herself feeling content with just that. She didn't need anyone else, she told herself, not after everything she'd been through.
But her friends thought differently. Over the years, they'd watched as Sharon poured everything into raising Kyle and building her career. They saw how she'd put her personal happiness on the backburner, never quite recovering from the trauma of her past. So one evening, they hatched a plan. They would drag Sharon out of the house, out of her comfort zone, and into the dating world once more.
Sharon resisted at first, making excuses about work, about Kyle, about anything she could think of. But her friends were persistent. They knew she needed this, even if she didn't see it herself. After a week of incessant texts and phone calls, Sharon finally caved.
"Fine," she said, exasperated. "I'll go. But just this once."
Her friends cheered, thrilled to have finally broken through her wall of reluctance. They arranged for her to attend a speed dating event at a trendy downtown bar. It was the last place Sharon would ever choose to be on a Friday night, but she promised herself she would go in with an open mind. After all, it was just one night. What harm could it do?
When Sharon arrived at the bar, she was immediately overwhelmed by the bustling atmosphere. The dim lighting, the chatter, the clinking of glasses—it was all too much. She hadn't been on a date in years, and the idea of meeting so many people in such a short time felt daunting. But she had promised her friends, and so she took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and walked in.
The event was already in full swing when she found a seat at one of the tables. Sharon smiled politely at the man across from her, who was already launching into his rehearsed spiel about his job, his hobbies, his love for hiking. She nodded along, but her mind was elsewhere, wondering what she was doing here. The next few minutes felt like a blur as she met one person after another, each conversation more forgettable than the last.
And then she saw her.
Y/N.
She was striking—tall, with sharp, masculine features that made her stand out in the crowd. There was something magnetic about her, something that drew Sharon in instantly. Y/N was confident, self-assured, and had an easy smile that made Sharon feel at ease for the first time that night.
As they talked, Sharon found herself laughing, genuinely enjoying the conversation. Y/N had a way of making her feel like she was the only person in the room, like nothing else mattered. They talked about everything—work, family, past relationships. Sharon found herself opening up in a way she hadn't expected, sharing details about her life that she usually kept guarded.
Y/N told her about her past relationship with a woman named Samantha, a relationship that had ended badly. Sharon could sense there was more to the story, but she didn't press. They were just getting to know each other, after all. But there was a connection there, something that felt real and unexpected. For the first time in years, Sharon felt a spark of something she thought she'd lost forever.
When the night ended, Y/N asked if she could see Sharon again, and without hesitation, Sharon said yes. As she walked out of the bar, she couldn't help but smile. Maybe her friends had been right. Maybe it was time to let someone new into her life.
But as she drove home that night, Sharon couldn't shake the feeling that something was looming on the horizon, something dark and familiar. It was a feeling she hadn't had in years, not since Lisa. But she brushed it off, focusing instead on the excitement of a new beginning.
Little did she know, that new beginning would soon collide with the shadows of her past in ways she could never have imagined.