Anonymous

Chapter 19

Chapter 19

It had been a week since Debra had seen her mother. She looked forward to jogging with Julie more than ever - even in the heat. Julie's letters had seemed to stop, but this time when Julie swung by, she showed up with another letter.

Julie

I hope you received my letters. I don't think I had your whole address quite right. I hope you did because I could never rewrite them. Well, if you did, you probably know who I am, right? I wonder if you came Friday. If you did, I'm sorry I missed you. I couldn't make it because I got called away again (NY). Work is getting to be a problem. I was looking forward to meeting you at our restaurant. We would have had such a good time together! My, how romantic it will be to sit next to you, holding hands. We'll order the best meal and my favorite wine (you remember?). You are so gorgeous, so pleasant to be near. I bet you look terrific in a beautiful evening gown, so fragile, loving, and sensitive. It will be the most memorable time of my life! You sitting with me would make me so proud! I will always remember your warm smile. It will be so nice to talk to you! On the other hand, I'm afraid you're going to tell me that you're happily married. I don't know yet. I didn't know how else to make you love me. I am so in love with you, Julie! Give me one more chance! Meet me again next Friday, same time & place. Please give me that one experience of a lifetime! If I don't see you, I will let go and try to stop loving you. This will be extremely hard because I know you would like me and, perhaps in time, love me like I love you. I have to say, this has been real exciting writing to you. Remember, there will always be someone loving you for the rest of your life. ME

Debra stood motionless. "Julie, I don't know what to say. What are you going to do?"

"Nothing. He said if I didn't show up that he'd stop. Besides, Kyle would go nuts if I tried to meet him again. Most likely this guy just wants to watch me and pretend he isn't there."

"Can you be sure that will end it?"

Julie's hand trembled as she took back the letter. "What if this guy's lurking around my house and looking in my windows? What if he's following me? I can't call the sheriff unless he threatens me or actually does something, and he hasn't. Yet. And how can I avoid contact when I don't even know what he looks like."

"What does Kyle say?"

"He says he's going to find out who he is and kill him. I've never seen him like this," Julie said as they crossed the road. She looked worn out, like she hadn't slept for days.

"What do you say we jog in the morning, tomorrow?" Debra asked. "We can get a breakfast first and split it like we did last time."

"I don't know. Call me in the morning."