Love, your stalker

Seventeen

I felt someone watching me. Watching my every move. Glassy eyes staring at my back, watching me, studying me. The eyes burned two holes in my back that would stay their forever and never heal. Like a scar.

Maybe it's my imagination.

Maybe I'm really going crazy.

*        *        *

"Our suspect, possible suspects, we are looking for is a while male, in his late twenties to early thirties. He's tall, strong and tanish."-Hodges showed a picture of Kirk on the TV-"He is dangerous and possibly armed. There may be a second suspect in the stalking and attack of Anne Wallace. Her name is Bobbie Brady. While female, in her late twenties. She dresses as a cop, but she really isn't one. She had metal braces and is blond." People shouted left and right.

"Can you tell us more?"

"Where is Anne?"

"How far along are you in this investigation?" reporters screamed. Hodges answered with thinks like:

"I can't discuss this..."

"We don't have any more info..."

"Please hold..."

I felt bad for Hodges. He seemed like a nice guy. Tall, strong jawline, tan, black hair that was a buzz cut like he was in the army, freckles sprawled all over his face.

A good-looking. Very good-looking in fact. I imagined him as my future husband. Waking up next to him, feeling his warm hand on my thigh, rubbing it gently. He was a gentleman; a man of class. Making me breakfast in bed every morning. Watching the kids while I got to work.

Just forget it, the voices said. It will never happen.

Maybe I am going crazy.

*        *        *

I heard a knock on the door at noon the next day, after the statement. I decided not to answer it.

Knock knock knock.

Don't answer. Whoever it is will go away.

Knock knock knock. Now it was more forceful. More powerful. I heard fingernails rap on the wooden door. I wanted to answer it. But I didn't know who it was. What if it was Kirk and Bobbie? If I open it, bam. Brains flying everywhere. Dark red blood spraying and coloring the white walls. My lifeless body falling down and thumping against the hardwood floor like a sack of potatoes. What will my kids do? They won't have a mother, or father, to raise them. I can't let them go to foster homes...that won't ever happen.

The questions ate away at my brain like maggots. I felt nauseated.

Knock. Knock. KNOCK. They were getting louder. I felt like I was going to breakdown and start screaming and crying, pounding the floor with my fist like it was the floors fault this was happening.

KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.

"Go away!" I screamed. "Leave me be Kirk! Leave now!" The knocking stopped. "That's right. LEAVE! GO AWAY! I HATE YOU!" I pounded my door with my fist, eventually breaking a hole in it. Good things my kids aren't here. But at school. Safe. Hopefully.

I looked out the window quietly, like a spy. Kirk's ugly face was shoved into the peep hole; but no Bobbie. He probably thinks I think he's gone for good.

But I'm not stupid.

I called 911. Luckily, Hodges answered. "Colorado Police. This is officer Russel Hodges. How may I help you?"

"Hodges. This is Anne calling from my house. Kirk is here. But Bobbie isn't. I need help right away. He's not leaving."

"Anne, stay calm. I will send troops there and get him away from there. Understand? Stay in the house and stay quiet."

The quiet part didn't happen. But I stayed in my crouched position and continued to peek out the window undercover. Invisible. Unseen. He has no idea I'm the one watching him.

*        *        *

"Get your hands up! Put them where I can see them! Now! We don't want to hurt you. Put the gun down."

See? Told you. The word gun smacked me in the face. I'm smart enough not to open the door.

And you thought I was stupid.

Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang. Four gunshots. Just like the neighborhood shooting a few weeks ago. I jumped four times. Then there was silence. I heard inaudible voices say things like Get a medic, Help, I need backup. Check for a pulse.

I prayed nothing happened to Russel and his men. I hoped it was Kirk and not Russel. Please, please, please. My head pounded like someone was hammering a nail into my head. My ears rung. My vision blurred. Why was no one coming to save me? Did something happen to them and not Kirk? Please. Please...

Bam! The door flew off it's hinges. "Get away! Leave me alone, Kirk!"

"Anne, Kirk's dead. It's me, Hodges! Come on down."

I felt twenty pounds of weight life off my shoulders. Kirk was...dead. Kirk was dead! He's gone! Out of my life! I sprinted down the stairs to see ten men in black with guns, then I saw Hodges. I wanted to kiss him then. But I held back. Instead, I ran over to him and hugged him, tears streaming down my face and onto his jacket. "Thank you! Thank you so much." I turned to face all the officers. "Thank you all!"

Russel led me outside and I saw Lacey and Harrison Jr., along with Ryan? Who could forget Ryan and his cute button nose? I ran to them, kissed them and hugged them so hard. I thought I might never see them again. "Oh, my kids. I love you. I love all of you so much."

"Is he gone Mom? Is Kirk gone?" asked Lacey.

 I smiled. "Yes. He's gone. Forever. He'll never bug us ever again." I hugged them even harder.

I saw Russel and his brothers carry Kirk's lifeless body on a stretcher into an ambulance. Blood was splattered along the side of my house and on my grass. That's okay. That's what I'm least worried about. I went over to Russel. "Hey."

"Hey Anne. How you holding up?"

I laughed.  A short, quick puff of air. "Could be better." He smiled. My house was crawling with police cars, yellow warning tape was taped around my yard. "Thank you again. For everything."

"My pleasure."

"I'm sorry for your loss as well. A few weeks ago." My head ached. I need some Advil.

"They were good men. They are avenged finally." He smiled again, showing a cute gap between his two top teeth.

"What about Bobbie?"

"She was found dead in Kirk's apartment." I nodded.

I pulled him in closer, then kissed him. His lips were juicy and soft, like fur. He grabbed the back of my neck with a big hand and kissed me back. I heard his buddies hooting and hollering at us. We both smiled and laughed.