Long nights and street lights

Meet me in the moonlight

For days on end I thought about what he had said to me. Did he mean it? Or was it a joke? Was I ready to say it back? Or was I just kidding myself?

He acted no different and I'm glad he hardly realised how hesitant I was being. My eyes were constantly searching for Jake in this small town of ours, even though I dreaded seeing him. He was constantly on my mind, but for all the wrong reasons. He was on my mind because I was uncomfortable, because I was scared and because I was nervous. I didn't want my relationship to end but the finish line was drawing so near. 

My head was constantly filled with scenarios that frightened me so much I didn't want to leave the house. I knew it was bound to happen soon. I just didn't know when. 

"Aisha, hi, it's Sargent Wallace. I was wondering if at some point you would be able to come into the station to discuss a few matters? Thank you, it is slightly urgent so if you could get back to me as soon as possible that would be great."

I knew before I even got to the station the next day that it would be that day that my life would turn to a mess. 

"I'm here to see Sargent Wallace." I quietly said at the reception desk. 

"Okay, take a seat and he won't be a moment thank you." The tanned man around my Dad's age nodded towards the seats behind me without looking at me. 

I sat down on one of the many uncomfortable plastic chairs that was far away from any other people waiting. My toes snuggled inside my Timberlands and I wriggled them violently to keep myself distracted. It felt like I was waiting for hours on end. For anyone looking at me, it would have seemed as if I was in a trance. Apart from my toes wriggling, I didn't move at all. I wasn't at all nervous about what I was going to discuss with the Sargent, I was worried about seeing Jake. I was so focused on wriggling my toes that when Sargent Wallace came out to invite me into his office, he had to ask me twice. 

"Take a seat please." I looked around his office, gazing at pictures of his family on his desk and framed awards on the walls. "As you know, we have treated the case on the deaths of your parents as suspicious." I nodded. There was a lump in my throat that prevented me from talking. "We have done quite a few investigations and have come to strange conclusions that don't seem to match up." 

I was staring at the floor, hardly listening. "Aisha, is today not a good day to do this?" 

My stare flew up to meet his eyes. "Pardon?" 

"You really don't seem well, are you okay? Should we do this another day?" 

I thought about it. If I came back to do it another day, I would just be putting it off more. It had to be done today. 

"No, sorry. Continue." He looked at me suspiciously. 

"Well, we have come to at least one conclusion...That we need to investigate further. Something is definitely not right somewhere along the lines and we are unsure of your safety. So for the time being, stay with Connor, whom we completely trust, and don't do anything out of the ordinary; like walk home in the dark, meet anyone after work alone, go to public toilets etc. We do not want to risk your safety, obviously for your sake but also because you are the best source we have to getting to the bottom of this." 

I nodded. He gestured towards the door. "Thank you. Miss Owen." He spoke gravely. I was already out of my chair and hot tailing it towards the door. "I'd like to see you again in a week's time for a further update." I only just caught his words as I closed the door behind me. And breathed. 

As I approached my car, I saw a small white piece of paper sticking up from under the windscreen wiper. My heart pounded, and for the right reasons. 

It read: "Meet me tonight, under the second street light. URGENT I swear. Please be there. - Jake." 

I scrunched up the piece of paper and threw it in the bin violently, just in case he was watching. He wasn't going to manipulate me. He was out of my life and I was happy with my current one.