Someone is Watching

Chapter three

After that dream, I decided that the best way to shake it off would be to go for a jog, so that's what I did. I put on tennis shoes and  running clothes, put in some earbuds, and went for a run. The music was good and upbeat, and the neighborhood scenery was beautiful, It cleared me right up.

By the time I got home, I was starving, my stomach practically gnawing at my arm. But, as i unlocked the front door and stepped inside, I realized that I still hadn't bought any groceries.

"Leftover Chinese food it is." I said to myself as I walked to my room and scooped up the day-old carton. I sat on my bed, eating breakfast, and staring out the window.

Soon I realized that a strange feeling was creeping  through me; I felt alone. I had never lived by myself, there has always been someone else with me, either Lily, a roommate, or a boyfriend. Now, it was just me, and I didn't like having no one to talk to, or at least feel the presence of. It felt alien to me.

I missed everyone. I missed Lily, my dad, Edgar, mom, my old friends, and even Frankie. I just wanted someone to talk to, I'm sure it's not good to be alone after all I've been through.

I was watching storm clouds slowly roll in, absent-mindedly poking the carton, when my phone rang. I looked down at the screen, but didn't recognize the number, so I let it ring until it was done.

I stood up and tossed the carton in the trash. "Groceries." I reminded myself, grabbing the house key and heading for the door. Maybe I could jog to a store before it started raining, then take a taxi back.

By the time I found a grocery store, I was completely winded. I don't know why I thought I could run that much, because I couldn't. But I got my groceries, and eventually hailed down a taxi just as it began to rain.

After unlocking the front door and putting the groceries away, I placed some potted plants around the house, They livened up the place a bit. My phone rang again, so I walked into the bedroom to get it, but it was the unknown number again. I just put my phone on silent and continued unbagging stuff.

I spent the next hour making a list of things that Murielle had left in the house for me. There was an old phone on the wall next to the fridge, a bed frame and mattress in each room, gardening supplies in a closet in the mud room, a few cooking supplies, and a yellow rain coat. "I'll have to call and thank her later." I said to myself, thinking I might invite her for dinner.

I tried calling her, using the wall phone, but she never answered. I figure she was busy, or maybe couldn't hear that well. Either way, I'll just talk to her another time.

The next few days were spent sleeping, and drinking from various bottles of wine. What can I say? I wasn't handling myself very well. I didn't go outside, I didn't answer the phone, and I didn't keep anything clean. That unknown number called at least 3 times a day, but I was too depressed to even care about it.

One day, around noon, I decided to call my mom. Maybe a familiar voice would cheer me up a bit. I trudged into the kitchen to use the wall phone, jumping up to sit on the counter. The keys on the number pad were a bit sticky, but I'm sure that's because it's old.

I dialed her number, and waited through six rings, but she didn't answer. I dialed again. Hey I had all day, right?

On the fourth ring she picked up with a very irritated and annoyed "hello?"
"Hey."
"Who is this?" She said sharply.
"Mom, it's Evelyn; your daughter."
"Evelyn! Oh, you should have said something sooner! I wouldn't have been so short!"
"It's alright, mom. I'm using a landline that came with the house."

"Oh, that's so vintage!" I could here the sugar in her voice. She must be with a client of hers. "Tell me all about the new place! Have you met all her friends yet?"
"No, mom I haven't really left the house. I've just been so busy cleaning and unpacking everything." I lied, not wanting her to know what I was really doing.
"Oh honey, you didn't have that much to unpack, I saw what you brought with. But I suppose cleaning that place must be difficult!"