Eva

4

I stood still frozen as the little girl continues to play with the bear. I looked closely at her and realized she looked a lot like Lucy did in the pictures. Before I know it, I hear my voice ask

"Lucy? " The little girl stops playing and turns around looking at me with cute smile before disappearing in a blink of an eye.

"Lucy?" I look around for her but found nothing. I wanted to tell myself that my mind was playing tricks on me but the teddy bear on the floor was proof that I hadn't imagined it. Sighing I go back into the bathroom finishing my shower then put on comfy clothes for bed.

I woke up to loud knocking on the door and groggily get up. I open the door and see an angry older woman.

"Do you know what time it is?" I say rubbing my eyes. The lady huffs

"Apparently you don't since you walk around none stop making loud stomping noises" I widen my eyes

"Excuse me? ....I'm sorry you must be mistaken, I've been asleep all this time" She gets in my face and looks straight into my eyes

"Don't lie, I live down stairs under you.... What are you doing? Throwing a party or something?" I sigh thinking about the tv volume

"I'm sorry ma'am, it won't happen again" I lock the door and go into the kitchen for a glass of coffee. I turn on the coffee maker and wait for it to start but notice that there is a little piece of folded paper behind it. I grab it opening it up and see it was written with crayon.

"I'm sorry?" I read it aloud and thought of Lucy.

"Did she make the noise the woman heard?"

I grab my laptop and google what to do if you have a child spirit and take mental notes. I then jump up going to my closet grabbing a jacket and a pair of shoes putting them in as I rush out the door.

I went to the corner store and walked straight to the toys. After awhile of trying to pick just one, I decided to get a cute little grey stuffed bunny with a little pink dog. I then went to the candy getting a chocolate and a pack of gummy bears hoping Lucy might like them. After picking a few more stuff I head over to the register.

"I didn't expect to see you at this time of night" I turn around and mentally sigh

"Hello John" He walks over to me

"What's that for?" He looks at the stuff I have

"I love stuff animals and candy" He looks at me surprised

"You must be a child at heart" I nodded

"What about you?" Looking down at the wine in his hand he smiles.

"Nothing much, just wanted celebrate a special event from work" The cashier finally got all my stuff and asked for me to use my card. I use it and smiled

"That sounds wonderful, I hope you continue to progress" I get my bags and try to leave

"Can I come over? I don't want to drink this all by myself" I shake my head

"I'm sorry, but I have to go to work in the morning. Maybe next time?" He walks with me out the store.

"Come on, just one drink." He smiles and goes to his car and opens the door for me. I sigh giving up knowing he won't take no for an answer and go over to him

"Just one drink" He grabs my bags from my hands and puts them in his trunk as I sit in the front passenger seat. He then gets behind the wheel and drives to my apartment complex. When we arrive we get out of the car and go into my apartment.

"Your apartment is much prettier than how my wife had ours" I tense up putting the bags on the table and goes into the kitchen grabbing two glasses from the cabinet

"Really?" He nods looking around

"My wife never did much except wait for me to come home and accuse me of being with another woman or gambling" I felt my throat go dry

"What gave her that idea?" I set the glasses down infront of him as he opens the bottle

"Once when she visited me at work she thought it was strange that I couldn't see her because I had to talk to my female boss without any interruptions" I frown

"When you put it like that, it does sound strange" He laughs a little and pours the wine into the glasses

"Really? I thought it's just her insecurity that made her think that" I frown taking my glass

"Do you always flirty with females when you recruit them?" He gulps his glass then looks at me with a smile pouring himself another glass

"With the more beautiful ones I do" I try to hold my face from cringing

"That's probably why she thought that then" I look down and take a small sip from my glass

"She's not around anymore though, so there's no need to worry about her anymore" I look up then jump back when I see his face is inches away from mine.

"What are you doing?!" I get up from my chair not moving my eyes from him

"What? I thought we were going to get to know each other better" He gets up walking over to me and wraps his arms around my waist. I close my eyes tight as I feel him put his lips on mine. After a few seconds I feel him wobbling pulls away and hear him land on something with a thump.

I open my eyes and see he landed on the couch with his eyes closed. I walk over to him and look at him cautiously and realize he is passed out drunk.

I sigh and go to my bags and take out the two stuffed animals and put them on a pillow with the candy.

"This is for you Lucy" I then went to my room locking the door, took out my pistol and put it on the nightstand just in case.