Obsessed 2

Chapter 10

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the house in a warm amber glow, Sharon found herself in the kitchen, attempting to prepare dinner. The mundane task should have been comforting, a moment of normalcy in the chaos that had taken over her life, but her hands were trembling, her mind miles away. The knife she was using to chop vegetables felt foreign in her grip, like a weapon instead of a kitchen tool.
Kyle had retreated to his room after their conversation, saying he needed to finish some homework. Sharon knew better; her son was trying to process the information they had dropped on him, and she couldn't blame him for needing space. The reality of Lisa's possible return had shaken him, and she felt a deep pang of guilt for dragging him into this nightmare.
Derek was still in the living room, flipping through the channels on the TV, though she doubted he was paying much attention. He had offered to stay for dinner, but Sharon knew he was just making sure she didn't have to be alone. Despite everything they had been through, Derek still cared, and for that, she was grateful.
Her phone buzzed on the counter, breaking her from her thoughts. Wiping her hands on a towel, she picked it up to see Y/N's name flashing on the screen. Her heart skipped a beat, both from anticipation and the underlying anxiety that had been gnawing at her since their last conversation. This was the moment she had been dreading.
Taking a deep breath, she answered the call. "Hey."
"Hey, Sharon," Y/N's voice was warm, comforting. "Sorry it took me so long to get back to you. It's been a crazy day at work."
"No worries," Sharon replied, forcing a lightness into her tone that she didn't feel. "I'm just glad you called."
There was a pause on the other end, the kind that made Sharon's stomach twist in knots. She could picture Y/N, likely sensing that something was off, debating whether or not to bring it up. Finally, Y/N spoke, her voice tinged with concern.
"Is everything okay? You seemed... different in your text earlier."
Sharon sighed, leaning against the counter as she tried to find the right words. She had to approach this delicately; she didn't want to scare Y/N, but she also needed answers.
"I'm sorry if I worried you," Sharon began, her voice soft. "It's just... there's been something on my mind. Remember when you told me about your ex, Samantha? How she was obsessed with you?"
"Yeah, I remember," Y/N replied, her tone cautious now. "Why?"
Sharon hesitated, her pulse quickening. This was the moment she had to connect the dots, even if the truth was more terrifying than she could bear. "I've been thinking about it, and I can't shake the feeling that she might be the same person I've been dealing with from my past—someone named Lisa Sheridan."
There was a long silence on the other end of the line, and Sharon feared she had crossed a line, that Y/N would think she was crazy for even suggesting such a thing. But when Y/N finally spoke, her voice was filled with a mixture of surprise and concern.
"Lisa Sheridan... Are you serious?"
"Yes," Sharon said, her voice trembling slightly. "Lisa was obsessed with my ex-husband, Derek. She tried to destroy our lives, and we thought she was dead. But now... now I think she might be alive, using a different name—Samantha. I know it sounds far-fetched, but there are too many similarities to ignore."
Y/N didn't respond immediately, and Sharon could almost hear the gears turning in her mind. Finally, Y/N let out a slow breath, her tone thoughtful.
"You know, I never actually saw Samantha after things went bad. She just disappeared, and I assumed she had moved on or found a new obsession. But if what you're saying is true... God, Sharon, this is serious."
Sharon's heart sank at Y/N's words, the confirmation that this wasn't just her imagination running wild. The possibility that Lisa—Samantha—had been playing a twisted game with both of them all these years was almost too much to fathom.
"I know it is," Sharon whispered, her voice barely above a breath. "And I don't know what to do. The police are involved now, but... I'm scared, Y/N. I'm scared she's going to come after me—or worse, after Kyle."
"She won't," Y/N said firmly, her voice filled with a determination that gave Sharon a sliver of hope. "We won't let her. If she's really back, then we'll figure out a way to stop her. Together."
Sharon closed her eyes, letting Y/N's words wash over her like a balm. It had been so long since she had allowed herself to rely on someone else, to trust that she didn't have to face her fears alone. And now, with Y/N by her side, maybe—just maybe—she could find the strength to confront the darkness that had returned to her life.
"Thank you," Sharon said, her voice thick with emotion. "I don't know what I would do without you right now."
"You don't have to thank me," Y/N replied softly. "I'm here for you, Sharon. Whatever happens, we'll get through it."
Sharon felt a tear slip down her cheek, quickly wiping it away before it could fall. "I'd like that. I'd like that a lot."
They spoke for a while longer, discussing the next steps and how they could protect themselves from whatever Lisa had planned. Y/N suggested that they meet up the next day, to talk things over in person and come up with a solid plan. Sharon agreed, relieved to have someone she could lean on during this difficult time.
When they finally hung up, Sharon felt a strange mixture of fear and hope battling within her. The road ahead was uncertain, and the dangers were real, but she wasn't alone. For the first time in a long time, she felt like she had a partner in this fight, someone who understood the gravity of the situation and was willing to stand by her side no matter what.
Derek walked into the kitchen, his expression curious as he noticed the shift in Sharon's demeanor. "Who was that?"
"Y/N," Sharon replied, setting her phone down on the counter. "I told her about everything that's been going on. She's going to help us figure this out."
Derek raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised but not entirely displeased. "You trust her?"
"I do," Sharon said without hesitation. "She's been through something similar with someone who might be Lisa—someone who was obsessed with her, too. If anyone can help me make sense of this, it's her."
Derek nodded slowly, processing the information. "Well, the more allies we have, the better. Just be careful, Sharon. We don't know how far Lisa is willing to go."
"I know," Sharon said, her voice resolute. "But we'll be ready for her."
As they finished preparing dinner, Sharon couldn't shake the feeling that the confrontation with Lisa was inevitable. But this time, she wasn't the frightened woman she had been all those years ago. She was stronger, wiser, and she had people in her life who cared about her—people who would fight alongside her.
The shadows of the past were closing in, but Sharon was determined not to let them consume her. She would face whatever came her way with courage and resolve, and she would protect the people she loved, no matter the cost. The battle was far from over, but Sharon knew one thing for certain: she wasn't going to lose this time.