A collection of short stories

Did you miss me?

I was walking up to the front door trying to hide my tears from the children peeking out of the neighbors window. I gave them a small smile and fumbled with my keys, finally unlocking the door. As soon as I was inside I fell to the floor sobbing. I had been going to my best friends grave for a year and a half, ever since she was killed by her abusive boyfriend. It was the night I was going to help her run away. I sat up and wiped my eyes and started to relive that night again. I had been parked outside my apartment complex waiting for her phone call to pick her up. The plan was for her to sneak out as he slept. It was hours after the planned time for her to call and I had gone inside to pace in my living room with worry. My phone finally rung and anxiously I answered but, he answered not her. I can still remember his empty words,"You're a bitch you know? I know you two were going to run away, well she's dead ok? Never come around here again or I'll do the same to you" after his warning I was to scared to attend her funeral, I try to make it up to her by visiting her grave everyday. After an hour I finally stand up and stumble into the kitchen, I haven't eaten since this morning. Starving I rip open the fridge looking for food. Groaning I slowly closed the fridge, I had forgotten to go grocery shopping. I find what I can and make a meager dinner. I walk into the living room to eat in front of the tv. I was flipping through the channels when I heard a small knock. I pause the tv and set my empty plate on the table and listen. I hear it again more urgently this time. I walk to the door and look through the peephole. I take a few steps back and slump to the floor. It was her. She looks well, alive. She calls my name. I jump up it's her! Running to the door before I open the door I say," what's the password?"
Laughing she says in her beautiful voice," You never change do you? It's Pomeranian puff"
Laughing I open the door and as soon as I see her I start to cry. "How are you still alive? What happened? Where have you been? Did you really die?" I said sobbing.
"Woah calm down!" She said sitting down on the couch,"I'll tell you but you have to stop crying first" I sit next to her and blow my nose,"Ok start talking"
"Are you sure you want to hear this?"
I nod and she continues,"It was the night of the plan. I was trying to convince him to go to bed, but he was in one of his moods and wouldn't listen to me. When he finally fell asleep it was about an hour after I was supposed to call. I hadn't even packed yet because I was dealing with him. I put as much as I could in a small bag and was looking for my phone to call before, I realized he had it. It was under his pillow. I went into his room to see if I could grab it. He wasn't in bed. I stepped into the room and closed the door, before I turned on the lights, he was behind me he grabbed me and started to touch me. He wanted sex. I tried to push him away I got him off of me and ran into the living room but he was close behind me" she paused here and took a few deep breaths and stood up then started to continue,"I was almost to the front door when he hit me. He hit me hard. I fell and he jumped on top of me hitting me repeatedly in the face until I passed out. I woke up in the bed with no clothes on and I felt violated, unclean" clearly upset she takes a drink of water and sits thinking for a few minutes. She sighs and keeps talking,"I haven't been outside since that day for a year and a half he's held me in that goddamn house and using me however he pleased. About a week ago I noticed he started to fall asleep earlier and earlier and I picked the lock and left, well I didn't leave I just stood on the doorstep and stared out into the neighborhood but I didn't leave, not yet. I went back inside and waited, waiting for the bastard to let me make his weekly smoothie full of steroids I slipped in a few sleeping pills and waited. As soon as he fell asleep I booked it and here I am" she smiles and says,"You missed me didn't you? I saw you visit my grave everyday through a window facing the cemetery."
"Of course I missed you! I couldn't believe it"
We hugged and talked for the rest of the night.  The next morning we went grocery shopping and got her some clothes. Everyday we do something out of the house or things we used to do before her "death" to get her used to the outside again or to make up for lost time.

End.