Page 20 of Texting Dr. Stalker

Friday had come around so fast, and despite my hope that I’d be healed and have my voice back to go to the market tomorrow, I’d already emailed the organiser and apologised that I wouldn’t be at the usual spot.

I also didn’t want to admit that the thought of leaving this house sent a clawing, crawling sensation through me. Which didn’t make sense as Milton had hurt me here. In this very kitchen. He’d throttled me five metres away in the living room, yet it was outside that suddenly seemed monstrous.

The big, bad world held so many more men like Milton, and I was far too stupid to know which ones to trust and which ones to run far away from.

“Are you sure?” Lily asked. “I don’t like the thought of you being here alone.”

Taking the note back, I scribbled as quickly as I could, hoping she could read my loopy, messy handwriting.I hope you’re not offended, Lil, but…you can’t live here forever, and I can’t move on until I face it. So yes, I’m sure.

She scowled as she read upside down. Her power suit of choice today was a thin silver pinstripe with a white blouse and pearl drop earrings. With smoky eyes and soft pink lips, she looked gorgeous.

Not for the first time, I worried about the male sex.

How had none of them swept her off her feet yet?

Not that they hadn’t tried.

She dated often and had numerous apps looking for love.

Unfortunately for her, she was successful in her own right, had a fancy car, saved every penny of her commission to buy some land to do her own development, and most likely terrified all the boys away with her ten-year and twenty-year life plan.

Compared to her, I was going nowhere.

I truly don’t know what she sees in me.

“I get it. I do.” She fussed with her sleek ponytail. “I just don’t like it. How certain are we that he isn’t going to come back and try to finish the job?”

Knowing better than to try to speak—thanks to my throat that only seemed to get worse instead of better—I headed to the knife block and yanked out the carving blade. I winked and slashed it through the air.

She smirked. “Be an awful mess if you decide to give him a few holes.”

I shrugged and gave a thumbs up.

“Yeah, yeah, I know. It would be totally worth it.” She smiled a little sadly. Her gaze slipped over me, no doubt taking in my white summer dress that skimmed the tops of my feet. It didn’t have sleeves, so the bruises on my arms couldn’t be hidden, but at least the huge purple splodges on my legs and torso were covered.

“Okay, I know you’re far stronger than you look, and I respect that. Just…” She drew up her shoulders and snatched the salad bag and her satchel. “You’ll text me throughout the day and keep me informed of how you’re doing? And you promise to call me anytime—day or night—if you need me to come back.Promise?”

I nodded. Placing the knife back in the block, I went to her and squished her in a hug. My bruises tried to complain, but I shushed them. I tried to whisper but it came out like a frog’s croak. “I promise.”

Patting my back, she gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. “Fine. I’ll leave you to it. What do you have planned today? I know you’re not going to the market tomorrow, so you don’t have to make any last-minute orders.”

I pointed at the garden anyway and mimed harvesting and pounding in a bowl.

“Well, have fun making all your potions. You really should be resting, but I know that suggestion will fall on deaf ears.” She headed toward the back door. “I’m warning you, though, if you don’t message me back within a reasonable timeframe, I’ll assume the worst and come racing back here.” She narrowed her eyes with a false glare. “So reply, Sailor Moon. Otherwise, I’ll tell the police to drop by to check on you.”

I laughed silently at the nickname.

Memories of us calling ourselves after the anime cartoon that played before high school every morning warmed the cold parts of me.

Back then, we’d both believed we had superpowers. I’d been Sailor Moon, and Lily had been Jupiter, thanks to my blonde and her dark hair. We’d been ordinary girls by day and powerful goddesses by night. To be honest, I’d still believed that…untilhim.

Anger bled through me.

Stop it.

Enough!

How dare Milton strip all my power? How dare Ilethim?

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