Page 3 of Beautiful Collide

Hopefully, the alarm doesn’t sound when I push open the door and add yet another embarrassing memory to my long list of high school fiascos, but I’m so close to losing my shit, I don’t even care.

The cool metal handle ices my fingers. I push it forward, the door creeping open slowly.

No alarm.

Makes sense. It’s a game day, after all.

I’m sure all the doors are unlocked tonight.

It takes a surprising amount of strength to prop open the heavy door, and the second I do, the cold night air hits me in the face.

It’s dark outside. Much darker than it was in the front of the building, where lights illuminate the black sky.

Here, a halo of stars and a giant moon are my backdrop.

I walk until I can see a faint light from the other side of the building and take a seat on the gum-dotted pavement.

Eyes closed, I try to calm my racing heart. My jaw chatters from the cold. Or maybe it’s the nerves.

A roar of cheers shatters my quiet solitude. It fades a moment later, leaving me alone with the thought of my monster looming over me.

He’s here.

He’s here, he’s here, he’s here.

No matter how hard I try, I can’t stop the way I shake.

“I’m just cold,” I try to tell myself, my teeth chattering between each syllable. “It’s not because of him.”

I’m stronger now . . .

But even my strength can’t stop the shadows from creeping in when the lights go out.

The faint shuffle of footsteps behind me sends a jolt down my spine. My body locks tight like a coiled spring.

Please, not now.

I don’t want to talk to anyone.

Please, don’t see me.

I close my eyes, willing whoever it is to leave.

Don’t let it be him.

It can’t be him.

It has to be him.

I’m spiraling. I know I am. But no matter how hard I try, my head and heart no longer feel tethered to reality. It’s too late. The monster struck and won. I’ve flung the door to my brain wide freaking open, and now all my intrusive thoughts batter their way in.

He found you.

A footstep closer.

Another one.

My body clenches.

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