Page 76 of Better Run
For the first time, I feel a hint of fear. They don’t have much time. I don’t care what he’ll do to me anymore. But I don’t want anything to happen to them.
The nurse comes back in and hands me a clipboard. “I need you to sign this AMA paperwork. I’m going to get you an Uber. Where do you want to go?”
I tell her my address. She types it in and looks at me. “That’s two hours away.”
I blink. Two hours away? Where am I?
“It’s fine. I’ll see if they’ll do it. Walk with me.”
She takes me through the hospital. I keep looking over my shoulder, expecting him to be there.
But he doesn’t show up, not on the walk and not while we wait for the Uber. While we wait, I ask to borrow her phone, and I call Kyle. He doesn’t pick up, probably because of the strange number. I leave him a message.
My Uber driver looks annoyed. I open the door and then turn back to the nurse. I wonder if I should give her a hug. Should say something eloquent. But then I just turn and get into the car.
And then I leave.
We drive away from the hospital. He doesn’t tell me to buckle up. We go through the town, passing a McDonald’s and Walmart. We get to the open road and keep going.
I look over my shoulder, but no truck follows us.
It doesn’t make me feel any different. This is a sick game. It was too easy. They’re going to get me, and when they do, they’ll make me pay worse than they ever have.
We drive and drive. There are some sighs from the driver, but I stay silent. He drives fast like he can’t wait to drop me off. After an hour, I start to recognize the scenery. Things get more and more familiar until we get to my old neighborhood.
I swallow.
We pull up to my house. It’s dark. My car is still parked in the driveway. Kyle’s is there, too, as well as a beat-up silver Honda I don’t recognize.
I don’t want to leave the car. As soon as I do, they’ll pop out from the shadows, fling me over their shoulders, and do depraved things to me. The first real feeling hits me, and it’s arousal.
That makes me snap up, and I get out. The driver doesn’t let me say anything and speeds off. I stand there, looking after him.
Finally, when his lights are gone, I look at the house. My house. The lights are on.
It’s surreal to be back here. Everything looks and feels the same. It’s like I went on vacation, and now I’m back. Familiarity makes me smile slightly.
I walk toward the door and my hospital gown brushes against my legs. Suddenly I realize that things here might be the same, but I’m not.
I take a deep breath and try the door handle. It’s locked. I pause before knocking. What would happen when I saw Kyle? Would I start crying? Would I beg for his forgiveness? Would he ever forgive me? The least he deserves, though, is to know I’m alive after all this time.
I knock.
It takes a bit, and I get strangely nervous on my own doorstep. But finally, it opens, and there he is behind the storm door, in his old white T-shirt and boxers.
I give an awkward wave.
He blinks. “Oh my god.” He stares and stares and doesn’t open the door.
“Uhhh, can I come in?” I try to joke as I reach for the door.
He steps back as I step in. The familiar scent of my home hits me, and out of nowhere, I tear up. I didn’t realize I missed this smell so much.
“Jo! I—are you okay?”
My heart clenches. No, I’m not okay. Not at all okay. I look at Kyle and want to just fall into his arms and cry. I start to do that and catch movement behind him. I pause.
“Kyle?” The voice is feminine.
