desertion

110

LYDIA

It had been a few days since I got out of the hospital, but the house didn't feel the same anymore. My bedroom window was fixed-good as new-but every time I passed it, my eyes lingered, scanning for movement outside. A shadow, a figure, anything. I knew it wasn't healthy, but I couldn't stop. The paranoia had dug its claws into me, and no matter how much I told myself to relax, I couldn't shake the feeling that someone was out there, watching.

Nathaniel and Miles were sprawled out in the living room, having been on a mission to "distract" me from my spiraling thoughts since they got here. Nathaniel tossed a card in frustration as we finished yet another game of UNO, glaring at Miles, who was smirking while holding yet another +2 card.

"This is unhealthy, you know," Nathaniel said, breaking the tension with his comment. "You sitting there, staring out the window every ten minutes like a cat waiting for its owner to come home."

I glared at him, crossing my arms over my chest. "How could I not be paranoid, Nathaniel? Someone broke into my life, threw poison at me-literally-and then disappeared like nothing happened. What am I supposed to do? Pretend I'm fine and act normal?"

He sighed, shaking his head. "I'm just saying you're going to drive yourself insane if you keep doing this."

"News flash, Nate: I'm already insane." My voice was sharp, but I didn't care.

"Okay, okay!" Miles jumped in, hands raised like a referee. "We're here to distract you, Lydia. So let us. Stop thinking about whoever's out there and focus on us. If not for your sake, then for ours. Nathaniel's been plotting his revenge against me for like thirty minutes."

Nathaniel shot him a look. "I don't need to plot anything. I'll just wait until you're out of +2 cards."

I rolled my eyes, but I played along as we switched from Monopoly-two hours of my life I'd never get back-to UNO. Miles and Nathaniel bantered back and forth, trading insults and laughter while I tried to muster the energy to match their mood. I was grateful they were here, truly, but I couldn't turn off the part of my brain that was fixated on the photos, the fingerprints, and the feeling that this wasn't over.

I didn't want to admit it, but I was exhausted. Every second that passed felt like I was walking on a tightrope, and the fall was coming closer and closer.

Then, a knock at the door.

I froze, my eyes snapping toward it. Miles was the first to react. "Lydia, don't-"

"I'll get it," I said quickly, cutting him off.

"Lydia, seriously, one of us should-"

I shot him a glare over my shoulder. "I would rather be taken out of my misery than hear the word UNO one more time."

Nathaniel laughed from the couch, still clutching a dwindling hand of cards. "Don't take too long. I'm about to win."

"You wish," Miles muttered, already eyeing his next move.

I ignored them, my steps heavy as I approached the door. Something in the back of my mind told me to hesitate, but I shook it off, turning the knob and pulling it open.

A man stood on the porch, dressed in what looked like a police uniform. He had a clipboard in one hand and an expression that was trying too hard to look friendly.

"Miss Diaz?" he asked.

"Yes," I said slowly, gripping the door tighter.

He nodded. "I need to speak with you for a moment. Privately."

Before I could respond, I heard the sound of footsteps behind me. Miles and Nathaniel had gotten up, both of them standing protectively behind me now.

"It's fine," I said, glancing back at them. "I'll be right back."

Miles frowned. "Lydia-"

"I'm fine," I repeated firmly.

Reluctantly, they stepped back, and I followed the man outside, closing the door behind me.

The air was cool, but I barely noticed as the man turned to me, his face losing some of its forced politeness.

"We were able to pull some fingerprints off the envelope," he began.

My stomach dropped. "And?"

"There were multiple prints. Yours, of course. And two others. One belonged to a Katie, and the other to a Michael."

Katie. Michael. The names spun in my head like a carousel. I searched my memory, trying to connect them to someone-anyone-but came up blank.

"I don't recognize those names," I said finally, my voice shaking.

He nodded, his expression unreadable. "This information stays confidential. Not even your father can know about this, understood?"

I frowned, something clicking in my brain. "Wait, why-"

Then I saw it.

No badge. No gun. No police car. No radio.

My chest tightened as the realization hit me. This wasn't a cop.

I nodded quickly, backing toward the door. "Got it. Thanks for letting me know."

I didn't wait for a response, slipping back inside and locking the door behind me.

Miles and Nathaniel were already on their feet, their faces etched with concern.

"What's wrong?" Miles asked, stepping closer.

"No gun," I whispered, my voice trembling. "No badge. No radio. No police car."

The words spilled out of me, over and over again, until they were the only thing I could think.

No gun. No badge. No radio. No police car.

I was losing it.

"Lydia," Miles said, grabbing my shoulders gently. "Look at me. What happened?"

But I couldn't answer. Those four things were all I could see, all I could hear.

No gun. No badge. No radio. No police car.

Someone was watching me.

And now, they were getting closer.