Journey Back to Me

Chapter 12

(AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey guys, sorry it took so long to finally update. I've been busy with job hunting & some other stuff. This is actually going to be the last chapter of this book, BUT there will be a second book to follow, so don't worry!)

The next few days were refreshing. I was beginning to feel like me again. Not whole, or completely put back together, but a new me. A stronger me. By the time Friday rolls around, I've gone four nights without a bad dream. It's the longest I've gone without a nightmare in two years, and I'm beginning to think my family can tell a difference, too.

I trot down the stairs while throwing my long brown hair in a ponytail. My mom is standing in the kitchen, microwaving her coffee. I guess Dad left some in the coffee pot when he left for work this morning, and my mom hates making coffee for herself. She always says it's better when somebody else makes it.

"Any big plans today, Michelle?" My mom looks over her coffee cup while awaiting my answer.

"Nah, not really. Just going for a run. Maybe I'll bake something later this afternoon. Who knows?" I don't mean to, but I feel a playful smirk crawl its way across my lips. Uncertainty usually gave me chest pains, even small stuff like planning out the day, but now I looked forward to it. Is this what it feels like to be normal?

"Well, if you bake something, you should do something with a lemon flavor, like those lemon blueberry cupcakes you made forever ago."

"I'll think about it. Maybe if you're lucky I'll let you have one."

We both laugh as I tell her bye and head out the door to go to the local park so I can run without so many damn hills. I would like to run in my neighborhood, but the elevation changes constantly, and I just can't run as long of a distance as I'd like to. Flatter ground is much better, and the Green Belt is way more level.

As I pull into a parking spot in front of the parking lot, my phone buzzes, and I'm expecting something from one of my parents making sure I got to the park safe, but it's an unknown number.

*Hey, we need to talk. Can you call me?*

I just assume they didn't mean to text me, so I respond:

*Sorry, I think you have the wrong number.*

I get out of the car and put my phone in the pocket of my leggings after picking a good playlist, but my phone goes off again. Since I'm just doing my warm-up walk, I decide to check it out.

*No, this is Michelle, right? We really need to chat.*

"Okay, deep breaths, you're okay. Just ask who it is. It's probably just a mom of one of the girls you coach at the gymnastics center," I whisper to myself as I reply.

*Oh, I'm so sorry. I don't have this number saved. I was about to go on a run. Is it okay if I call you afterwards?*

I check my running app, which tells me I have two minutes until my warm-up is over, and then the message I never expected pops up on the top of my screen.

*It's Dylan. We need to talk. Now.*

TO BE CONTINUED...