Emily, Come Home

Fifteen

I looked over my shoulder as I moved quickly through the crowded streets. I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being followed. Everything in me was sending red flags to my brain. I took an abrupt turn and hid behind a pillar of a random shop. I waited, watching for anything out of the ordinary. As the minutes ticked by, I felt the frustration take over.

"Goddamn paranoia," I muttered as I rejoined the crowd. I continued my walk to my favorite coffee house. When I entered, I was immediately greeted by Bailey. She was a small, peppy girl who I'd come to know pretty well during my frequent visits.

"Hiya, Em," she waved from her post behind the counter. "The usual?" I nodded, and she smiled brightly. As I stood by the counter, I watched her flitter about as she made my drink. Once she had finished, she handed it to me.

"Thanks, hon," I said as I handed her the money. As I waited for the change, the feeling of being watched returned. I glanced anxiously out the window, but no one was there.

"Are you okay?" Her voice pulled me back to reality. I feigned a smile and nodded, trying to shake the discomfort.

"Yeah, it's just been a really long day," I excused as I glanced back towards the window. I turned back towards her, and the expression on her face showed a hint of concern. She stared out the window and looked like she was about to say something, but instead, she smiled and turned her attention back towards me.

"Okay. Well, have a great day! I'll see you tomorrow?"

"You know it," I laughed as I moved towards the door. I had just stepped outside when my phone started to ring. I looked at the caller ID and smiled slightly before answering the call.

"Hey, Mikes. Yes, I know what today is, and no, I haven't been fucked up all day."

"That's good," he replied. There was a hint of anxiety in his voice. "So, how's life?"

"It's okay," I lied, per our usual conversations. "Just been working hard, sleeping harder." He chuckled nervously. "What about you?"

"Well, I'm alright. I've just been taking it day by day. It's going pretty well, though."

"I'm glad to hear it. How are Mom and Dad?" I asked as I took a sip of my latte.

"They're doing really well, actually. Mom has been really into crocheting for some reason, and our house looks like a yarn bomb went off, but she's having fun. Dad's been working on that old car he found, and it's coming along great. So, everyone's doing pretty well."

"That's great." There was an uncomfortable length of silence. "Well, I should-"

"Em," he said suddenly.

"Yeah, Mikes?"

"I actually had another reason for calling," he stated apprehensively.

"Oh, okay. Well, what's up?" He was beginning to make me nervous.

"Well, it's about him." My heart sank.

"Oh, is he okay?" I asked. I know that I shouldn't care, but there was still that part of me that did.

"Yeah. No, he's fine, I think. Listen, they actually let him out a few days ago. They said he was rehabilitated or some shit," he stammered. My stomach flipped, and I struggled hard to hold my shit together.

"Oh, thanks for telling me, I guess."

"I just thought you'd want to know. So, maybe, you wouldn't be mad at me when you heard it from someone else."

"No, it's fine. I mean, I'm pretty sure I'm in the clear. I literally changed my name and moved across the country. I'm not too worried about it," I said, trying to reassure myself more than him.