"Come on", Jonathon says with a laugh. "We should get you to bed. You need rest."
I clutch the tiny rectangle box to my chest, unwilling to do as I'm told as I keep my eyes on the screen a few feet in front of me. "I'm not giving up this box- thingy."
"It's a remote", he tells me. "And hand it over."
"Nope", I say. "I will put this remote in my bra. I did it with a phone for over three hours, I can do it with a remote thingy."
"Do you really think that's going to bother me?", he asks. "I'm a surgeon, sweetheart. I've seen everything."
My mouth drops open, and my father quickly pulls the remote out of my hand before pushing a button, causing the Tv screen to turn black with a tiny click.
I gape in awe, letting out a squeak of surprise when I find myself suddenly in his arms, already halfway back to what I should probably be calling my bedroom now, laughing with him as he spins us around in a circle.
After a minute, Jonathon sets me down on the mattress and covers me with the comforter, tucking the edges underneath the sheets.
"Wait", I say as he gets up to go. My father turns back to face me, silently waiting. "Will you stay with me?"
To my surprise, his blue eyes fill up with tears, and he runs a hand through his light hair before nodding and slowly walking back over, taking a seat on the edge of the bed.
"I guess it must like be raising me again, huh", I say quietly, looking down at my lap. "Like I'm a child again."
"That's not why I'm happy", he says, his voice cracking slightly. "I'm happy because you're home. I'm happy because I have my daughter back after hearing her be in so much pain. I'm happy because I get the chance to see you as you used to be, and you are, as well as who you will be someday."
"What was I like?", I ask. "Before, I mean."
"A lot like you are now. Not much has changed", Jonathon says quietly. "You weren't very involved with a lot of people, no one really except Kevin. Kevin was-"
"My cheating boyfriend", I finish. "I remember."
He nods and continues, "You did a lot of reading. Writing sometimes, but you loved music. I'm not a very good cook, but you were. While you were making food, you would sing along to the music on your phone or the radio. You smiled a lot. You laughed at my terrible jokes like they were the most hilarious thing in the world."
"I'm not the same person anymore", I say softly. "I've made too many mistakes."
"Mistakes make you human", my father tells me. "It gets better; I promise. Now go to sleep."
I nod my head and lay back, closing my eyes as I focus on my breathing.
In and out. In and out.
I'm different now.
------
"You are going nowhere near her!", my father's voice says angrily from the other side of my bedroom door. "Now get out of my house before I call the police."
"I missed her too", a different voice says. "I just want to see her."
"She's sleeping."
"I'll wait."
The door opens and then slams shut, and I look up from the book I'm reading to watch Jonathon walk over, obviously annoyed and angry.
"Who's here?", I ask, marking my page before setting the novel aside, leaning backwards to wait for him to reply.
"Kevin", my father says, almost in a growl. "He wants to see you."
"I heard", I reply. "What do you want to do about it?"
"I think I should give him a nice shiner and haul his sorry ass down to the police", he answers bluntly. "But I'll leave the decision up to you. Are you ready to see him?"
"Will he leave if I talk to him?", I ask quietly, reaching over to brush my fingers over his tightly clenched fists.
"Yes." He sighs, relaxing his hand so I can hold it. "I'm just not very comfortable with the idea."
"Me neither", I confess. "But if we want him to go, we might as well give him what he wants. I'll just tell him never to come back ever again."
"He might not accept that."
"If he comes back", I say. "Then call the police. It is technically trespassing to be on someone else's property without permission."
Jonathon smiles.
"What?"
"You're a genius", he says, kissing my hand. "Are you ready?"
"I have to be", I answer.
I watch my father get up and stroll back to the door before picking up the book again.
He pokes his head out into the hallway and says, "You have five minutes."
Then Jonathon walks out, and a new person walks in.
"Hey Sugarpie."
YOU ARE READING
Insanity
Mystery / Thriller"Oh, my God." I look up from my hands, the blade wet with red liquid. "Hi", I say cheerily, giving him a wave, laughing as more drips onto my lap. I gently set the knife down on the counter top beside where I'm sitting, my legs covered in knife mar...
