We woke up later then we usually did by half an hour. It might not seem like much but it was nice to get some extra sleep. We were quiet all through breakfast and getting dressed. We left a few minutes before our check-in time and got there with time to spare. We took the elevator to the second floor and then signed in. Usually we had to wait a few minutes, sometimes longer, if the session before us went over. However today we were the first ones in, so they took us back to the office, a minute or two after the appointment time.
Nothing had changed since my last visit. The room was still the same. The session started off like always small talk and then why was I there. I went over everything. It was hard.
Again I knew I wasn't crazy but knew anyone I told would think I was. The doctor adjusted my medications then scheduled me to see him again next week. He booked his last appointment of the day so we wouldn't have to miss work, if I was even going back to work. For now he told me to just take it one day at a time and see how I felt.
Casey had mostly been quiet during the session. He sat in the corner and only spoke to correct me or emphasis, anything I tried to underplay or gloss over. I knew he was just looking out for me but it was times like this I really wish he knew and we were on the same page. I could use someone in my corner.
Sometimes, I wondered how my life would have been, if I'd just kept my mouth shut. How many other lifetimes had I been labeled as crazy for knowing things that no one else did. If I had just shut up and kept it to myself maybe I could have had somewhat of a normal life until the shit hit the fan. I let out a heavy sigh as I sat in the car. I thought we were going home but noticed Casey had pulled into the grocery store parking lot.
Before I could asks what was up, he said we needed to get my new prescription filled, and might as well do some grocery shopping. We submitted the prescription then walked around the store. We got some more meat, fruits and cereal before looking over the frozen treats. When the prescription was ready we picked I up then checked out.
When we got to the car he had me take my new prescription right right away. Not that it was going to help. I thought it could at least wait a day or so but he wanted it to kick in, right away. It really would be something if all of this could go away with a pill.
When we got home he carried in the groceries and I put them away. Angie showed up just as I was finishing. Casey took her outside and they talked for a while. I didn't think it was that late in the day, but realized it was already noon. Before I knew it, he was getting ready to meet with Becket. I could tell he was agitated, and not in the mood for my 'crazy." I knew I shouldn't bug him but I worried.
"Please be careful and please keep your phone on and make sure he doesn't follow you home and don't tell him about everything, okay."
"No." he simply said.
I wasn't sure what exactly he said no to but he didn't elaborate. He just gave me a quick kiss before turning to leaving the house. I grabbed his arm as he reached for the door and I pleaded with him "Please, I'm scared, Trust me on this!"
"I know you are." he said. "TRUST me."
"Again I do. I just don't trust him."
He gave me a look then pulled away. I watched him walk outside and get into the car. A moment later he drove off. Angie was nice she tried to distract me. We talked about her grand kids and what classes she was still teaching. She had mostly moved to part time these days. She wanted to live a little more while she still had the energy to do so. She sounded like she had a lot going on, beside her classes and grand kids, she was also teaching some night classes and volunteering.
Her life seemed so full. Maybe I just didn't have enough going on in my life. Maybe I needed more of a distraction. Perhaps I'd take up swimming, or sailing. Maybe I'd learn to paint of play an instrument. I wasn't aiming for a massive change just something to keep me from thinking about doom and gloom so much.
We painted our nails then watched some TV. I kept checking the time off and on. I figured he'd be maybe an hour or two. I didn't think he'd have Angie stay here all day. He must have gone over the time he said he'd be back, because at some point, I noticed Angie begin to stare at the clock as well. Eventually she got on her phone and started texting. She let out a sigh after a few minutes and her tongue started clicking. I knew she did that when she as worried.
"Have you heard from Casey?" I asked.
"A little." she admitted.
"Can you ask how thing are going?
"It's going fine." She said. "I'm sure it will all work out."
"You know I'm not a kid." I said. "You don't have to baby me. I know I have a lot of issues but I am doing better."
"I know you are doing great." She said giving me a warm smile.
The more time passed the more uneasy I felt. After three hours I wondered if he had also made other plans. Perhaps he was running a few errands on top of meeting with Becket because honestly it shouldn't have taken this long. Eventually Angie had to make a call and tell someone she was running a little late. I knew that wasn't good. When four hours had passed I got really worried. What if he didn't come back?
Suddenly I heard his car pull into the driveway. I couldn't wait! I rushed out to greet him. Yet when I got outside, I noticed he just sat there in the car, with the engine off. I could tell immediately it hadn't gone well. He unbuttoned the top of his collar then loosened it before hitting the steering wheel. He must have been really upset.
I only ever saw him lose his cool once or twice over the years. I slowly walked up the car but paused as I noticed another car slowly driving by. It was practically moving at a snails pace. Curious I turned to it, my eyes widened as I saw it was 'HIM!' Our eyes locked as I realized he had followed Casey home! Just like I'd feared! He now knew where we lived! I couldn't help but scream. Beckett was so focused on me that he hit a parked car.
Casey burst out of the car and rushed to me. "WHAT! WHAT IS IT! ARE YOU HURT?"
He got in front of me grabbing my arms. He looked me all over and I grabbed his arms back pulling on him. I looked up at him panicked and shouted. "NO! NO! HE FOLLOWED YOU! HE KNOWS WHERE WE LIVE NOW!" I pointed as Angie came rushing over.
Casey whipped his head around to look at Becket's car. It hadn't hit the parked car very hard but it had still broken the tail light. Becket scrambled to back the car up so he could drive off. Casey moved towards the car, slowly at first, I don't think he saw Becket right away, when he did, he lost it!
"YOU LITTLE SHIT!" Casey rushed up to the car and yanked the door open. He practically ripped Becket out of the car, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE! DID YOU FOLLOW ME!"
Becket sputtered I realized he looked even worse then the other day. "I just want to talk to her. I need answers! I have every right. EVERY RIGHT TO TALK TO HER!" He started off timid then got more confident and angry.
"I TOLD YOU NO!" Casey roared.
"I'M NOT YOUR STUDENT ANYMORE MR. MADISON!" Becket tried to pull free of Casey but he didn't let go of him. "YOU CAN'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO! I have every right to talk to whoever I please, whenever I want!"
I was worried they were going to fight.
"CASEY!" I called as Angie also looked concerned.
It wasn't Casey that called back to me but Becket "NONA!" He tried to get around Casey and our eyes locked for a second. There was this desperation in his. It scared me and I pulled back.
Angie grabbed my shoulders and tried to turn me, "Let's go inside."
Casey slammed Becket against his car. "WHAT DON'T YOU FUCKING GET! SHE'S CRAZY AND THIS ISN'T HELPING! GET IN YOUR FUCKING CAR AND GET OUT OF HERE! AND DON'T EVER COME BACK! IF I EVER SEE YOU AROUND HER, I WILL CALL THE POLICE! DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME!"
Becket didn't seem scared in the slightest. He only got more upset. "THIS IS SO STUPID! I HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING! I just want to talk to her! I want answers!"
"SHE DOESN'T HAVE ANY!" Roared Casey. He pushed Becket against the car again then let go of him and turned back to me. "GET IN THE HOUSE NOW!"
I could see he was beyond furious. I looked at Casey then at Becket. He glared at me and I glare right back at him. He got this smug smile on his face, like he found all this amusing. He stepped away from his car and looked like he was going to come after me but Casey turned around.
"WHAT ARE YOU STUPID! GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE NOW!" He said putting his hand on Becket's chest. He pushing him back against the car and called out. "ANGIE GET HER INSIDE AND CALL THE POLICE! THIS ASSHOLE HIT SOMEONE'S CAR!
"Fuck you!" snarled Becket. "You can't keep her from me! I will get my answers, sooner or later!"
He glanced at me then got back in his car and sped off as Angie pulled me into the house. Casey stood in the street for a second, with his and over his mouth, then turned and came rushing into the house. He shut and locked the door behind him before he looked out the window. He cursed under his breath then took his phone out of his pocket. He glanced at it then connected it to the charger in the kitchen. It must have died or his battery was low.
He picked up our home phone then looked up the number for the police on the emergency list he put on the fridge when we moved in. "Hello, yes, I'd like to report a hit and run. Yes my address is-"
I realized he was calling in Becket's hit and run. I wasn't sure how it was going to go over. Becket had hit the other car but Casey had also told him to get out of here. Did that still count as running if your were told to leave. I bit my lip worrying as Angie pulling me into the bedroom and suggested I take a moment to relax. I wasn't a child but I didn't protest. I just sat down on the bed as she went back out and talked with Casey.
I felt awful about what happened. All of this was my fault! I shouldn't have talked to Becket at all! I could see he was unstable now. He might have been for a while and everything I'd said to him the other day, really hadn't helped. It must have been eating at him. He wanted answer….I had them but also I couldn't give them to him.
I went over what happened in my head. I assumed their talk hadn't gone well. Casey had looked upset in the car and then got so angry when he practically tore Becket out of his car. I thought they were going to start fighting right then and there. The way Becket had looked at me and called out to me had been unsettling. I wanted to do something but knew I'd probably just make things worse. Everything was so tense right now I decided to let things settle down for a while.
I heard Angie talk to Casey for a minute or two. She just wanted to make sure he was okay before she left. Casey got on with the police and they drove out and took a statement and pictures from him. I could hear him talking to them. He left me out of it but I had also witnessed it. I debated popping out of the bedroom but assumed there was a reason he hadn't asked me to also make a statement to the police.
After they left, he started drinking. He was on his third bottle when he finally came to talk to me. I could see the other two bottles on the kitchen table from the bedroom. I let out a heavy sigh, knowing it wasn't good for him to go this hard, this early in the day.
"I don't want you leaving the house alone...or work. I don't want you out and about on your own, period, okay. I want someone to always be with you or know where you are, alright."
He kept adjusting his request. I could see he was still tenses, from earlier. It wasn't the first time I'd had a rule like this, though usually the restrictions were because they thought I was going to hurt myself and not because someone was after me. Of course, the reason I'd hurt myself in the first place was because I always knew one day he'd be after me. I didn't say anything. I just nodded as I wrapped my hands around my knees.
He rubbed my back and assured me, "Nothing is happening here. This guy just has some issues of his own and I'd just rather err on the side of caution."
"What did he say? What does he want exactly?"
"Nothing, he just wont let things be. He wants answers and you don't have any."
"I don't." I agreed. "At least none that are going to fix this. I'm sorry." I said embracing him. "It's all happening again. We don't have much time left."
He jerked from my embrace, grabbed the sides of my arms and shook me, "STOP IT NONA! IT'S NOT REAL!" He froze and I could see he realized he'd lost control, for a second.
He quickly let me go and apologized, "I'm sorry, just please don't do this right now. Between you and him it's a lot."
"Okay, I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry," he said again slowly moving to embrace me.
We held each other for a moment then I asked. "You eat yet?"
"Not yet. I ordered some food but lost my appetite talking to that asshole. You eat?"
"Only snacks.
"Alright." he said pulling away again. "Let's make something to eat."
I nodded and we went into the kitchen. He took out the ground meat and made us some burgers on the grill. I made us something to drink and got out the potato salad and chips. We ate outside in the backyard and it was nice though I noticed he was drinking more then usual.
After we finished cleaning up, I worked on a puzzle for a bit then he asked me to turn in early. I did, knowing he had a rough day. I had a feeling he was going to drink some more. Sometimes when things were really hard or he'd had a rough day he'd sit in the dark and drink. I went to bed but got up after a few minutes to check on him. I was surprised to see him sitting at the kitchen table with the phone.
He sounded tired as he called someone. "Hello, Mr. Grish, uh this is Casey Madison. I teach Leo at the vocational school, and put in some good words for him, at court recently. You found him. Is he okay? Good, good. I uh...sorry to be calling you so late, but I'm actually calling to ask you about something. You're the only one I really know in law enforcement and I've been having some problems with an individual. I was wondering if you know how to get a restraining order or what, if any my options might be?"
"Yeah. Uh, he's become a problem just recently. My girlfriend, has some mental health issues and he just wont leave her alone. He seems to have some issues of his own and he now knows where we live. I tried to sit him down twice but uh... he just wont listen and uh is escalating." There was a long pause. Whoever Casey was on the phone with must have been talking. He look a swig of his beer then sighed and said, "Yeah, I think he might be dangerous."
He was quiet for nearly a minute listening then sounded relieved as he said "Yeah, oh thank you. Thank a lot! Okay! His name is Becket Rouse. Yeah, okay, okay." He took up a pen and paper and began jotting something down.
I pulled away and went back to bed. I laid down thinking about it. He was going to look into getting a restraining order or something. I knew this wasn't going to work. It had never stopped 'HIM' before. If anything it just pissed 'HIM' off. Once Becket got started nothing could detour him. I recalled the look in his eyes today and how he'd called out to me. It had started! It had really started! I wasn't just imagining it. I knew this was coming for a while but it was always coming, not here and now. Now it was at last time. I let out a heavy sigh wondered if there was anything left I could do other then just wait...wait for the inevitable.
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