The Space Between

Chapter 6: Only for a moment

"Well, we're so excited to have you here, Melanie," her mom, Georgia, said, her voice chipper but laced with nerves. She swept up piles of old newspapers from the coffee table, shoving them into the trash with hurried hands. "I just wish you'd called ahead. I would've tidied up a bit."

"It's okay, Mom. I don't mind." Melanie gave a small, tired smile, rubbing her arms as though warding off a chill.

"Georgie, stop fussing." Harold's voice boomed warmly from the living room as he stepped into the foyer, arms spread wide. "She knows we're a little messy sometimes."

Melanie barely had time to react before her father pulled her into a bear hug, his large frame swallowing hers. He kissed the top of her head, exhaling a long, relieved breath.

"Melly, my baby girl, I'm so glad you're here," he murmured, the words more of a prayer than a greeting.

"I am too, Dad." Her voice cracked as she sniffled, holding onto him a second longer than usual.

Harold loosened his grip but kept a hand on her shoulder. Georgia sidled up next to them, and together they stood quietly, parents flanking their daughter, eyes full of unspoken worry. They exchanged a glance over Melanie's head—a silent conversation only parents could have. Their expressions reflected a mixture of joy, relief, and confusion, as if they were trying to piece together what had brought her here after all this time.

Melanie shuffled toward the window, drawn to the little scene outside. A pair of squirrels darted across the yard, nosing through the scattered nuts Georgia always left on the porch for them. Their frantic, mindless gathering felt oddly comforting.

"Melanie, what's going on?" Georgia's voice was soft, but it hit Melanie with the weight of a question she wasn't ready to answer.

"I—" Melanie cut herself off, pressing her lips together. She inhaled deeply, steadying herself, then turned back toward her parents with a forced smile. "Let's watch a movie. You know, like we used to."

Her voice trembled slightly, but she kept going. "Let's make a fort with the couch cushions and blankets, just like old times." She let out a nervous laugh, shifting on her tiptoes as if she could bounce away from the heaviness in the room.

Georgia and Harold exchanged another look, concern etched across their faces.

"Please," Melanie whispered, her voice cracking again. "I need this."

Georgia clapped her hands together with an exaggerated grin. "Alrighty then! Let's get to work. Harold, you and Melly set up the fort. I'll run to the store and grab some snacks."

Melanie smiled, grateful, and followed her dad to the living room. The familiar comfort of old routines began to soften the sharp edges of her anxiety. They tossed the couch cushions onto the floor, pulling down blankets from the closet as they got to work assembling the fort.

As they built, Melanie's mind drifted to simpler times when life wasn't tangled with fear and secrets. Nights spent piling into the living room, watching Harry Potter until they could barely keep their eyes open.

"You still a Hufflepuff, Mel?" Harold teased as he draped a blanket over the makeshift roof.

"Through and through," Melanie chuckled, the sound lighter than it had been in a long time.

When they finished, they stepped back and admired their work. The fort wasn't just good it was the best one they'd ever built. Blankets draped perfectly, pillows piled high, and a warm glow from the lamp filtered through the gaps, making it feel cozy and magical.

"Well, isn't this something special," Georgia announced as she returned, arms laden with bags of snacks. Her face lit up with pride as she surveyed the fort.

"Oh, well, Melly did most of the work," Harold said with a playful grin, bumping his daughter's shoulder.

"Yeah, Dad just stood around and watched me do all the hard labor." Melanie smirked, bumping him right back.

Georgia laughed as she dumped bags of chips, candy, and popcorn onto the coffee table. They all settled into the fort, cocooned in blankets, the soft hum of nostalgia filling the air. As the familiar Harry Potter theme began to play, Melanie let herself sink into the moment.

For the first time in what felt like forever, she wasn't running, wasn't worried just happy. The sound of her parents' laughter mixed with the smell of fresh popcorn, creating a bubble of warmth and comfort that wrapped around her, blocking out the rest of the world.

And for a little while, the fear and uncertainty melted away.

Then—

Ring. Ring. Ring.

Melanie's phone buzzed against the cushion. She reached for it absently, expecting it to be nothing important. But the words on the screen froze her blood.

Marion County Police Department.

Her heart plummeted.

The room around her dimmed, the warmth snatched away as if someone had thrown a bucket of cold water over her. She stared at the screen, her chest tightening, her breath shallow and quick.

The happy bubble she'd wrapped herself in shattered, leaving her exposed to the creeping dread that had chased her here.

"Mel?" Harold's voice broke through her haze. "Everything okay?"

Melanie didn't answer. She could only stare at the phone, her hands trembling.

And just like that, the night of comfort and laughter was gone swallowed whole by the looming shadow of whatever was coming next.