This is My Life Now

Chapter 7

I rushed out the front door with my arms full of bags as I tried to figure out how to get home without being followed. After I dropped my groceries in the back seat of my car I hopped in quickly deciding to drive around the city to see if there was anyone following me. Once I hadn't noticed anyone after twenty minutes I headed home still wary of my surroundings.

I opened my front door and dropped the groceries on the counter and started putting them away when I heard a noise from the living room. I walked out of the kitchen grabbing a knife on the way out and turned the corner to see Viv climbing out the window. "What the hell are you doing here?" I asked making her jump.

"Shit," she cursed, turning back to me and crawling back through the window.

"You thought you could sneak out on me?" I laughed setting the knife down on the coffee table.

"I was just checking to see if you're okay cause you're obviously not," she noted the few bottles I had on the table and the pile of clothes by my bed.

"Great, I didn't realize that if I gave you my address that you were coming to judge me," I said, starting to clean up after myself knowing that there was going to be a mess back tonight.

"I'm just worried about you, Addie," she said solemnly and I sighed, dumping the garbage in my trash bin.

"I'm fine, Vivian. Trust me," I said turning back to her though my face probably said differently.

"I don't believe that for one second," she crossed her arms.

"It's just..." I started trying to figure out what to say but before I could tears started streaming down my face. Vivian crossed the room in a second engulfing me in a hug. I sobbed into her shoulder as she comforted me. "I feel so alone, Viv. He was everything to me. I'm not even mad at him. I did the exact same thing and know that we both just do it for the safety of the other. But I just miss him so much," I cried.

"It's okay. I'm so sorry, Addie," she apologized as I let all the emotions I had been keeping in out, "You just need to be strong."

"I can't. How long is this going to last? We're both wanted by the government and he left so that I could live my life but I can't. It's not possible without him. I need him. I can't live the rest of my life happy without him," I confessed, "I love him."

"I know it's difficult right but you're a strong person and I know you'll be able to get through this," she said as we pulled away from our hug.

"Sorry I kinda just dumped this all on you," I said wiping my face from tears.

"It is absolutely no problem. It's what friends do.  Please let me know if you need anything," she said giving my arm a squeeze, "I have to get going for a meeting but I'll be back soon."

"Thanks again, Viv," I gave her a quick hug before she left.

Once alone, I decided that it was time to clean up my apartment as Vivian was right. It was a mess. I put away any clean clothing that I had in my closet and everything else in the community washer down the hall from my apartment. I started scrubbing down the kitchen a bit just to kill some time. After switching my load over to the dryer I made an actual meal instead of ordering take out. I grilled some chicken and mixed up a bowl for salad.

After I finished I sat on the couch with the bowl in hand along with a glass of wine and the bottle waiting nearby before turning on the tv. I watched the news always interested in what was going on back in the states and what exactly had been happening since we all disappeared.

I finished my bowl of salad and poured a few more glasses of wine before I started to get tired. I wrapped myself tighter in my blanket and slowly fell asleep on the couch. Just as I was about to drift off, I felt something on my face. I opened my eyes but then heard a crash coming from the kitchen. I jumped up quickly looking around the room before running for the kitchen where I heard the front door open. They ran to the left towards the laundry room which was a dead end. I opened the door quickly after grabbing a knife from the counter and ran after them catching someone in a hoodie and jeans.

"Who are you?" I demanded as they stopped at the dead end. They still faced the wall as I raised the knife towards them, "I said who are you? What do you want from me?"

The person slowly turned around with their hands in the air as their hood fell. My heart lurched as I saw their face. "Steve?"