Chapter 98: I'LL KILL HIM!

Emily.

As I stepped into the driveway in front of the house, my emotions overwhelmed me. I felt like I saw Kevin in front of me with every step. I even felt like I heard him.

“I should have taken Olivia up on her offer to stay at Frank’s,” I thought angrily to myself.

At Olivia’s wedding, I felt like all that wound had healed, but I realized there was still a flame smoldering in the depths of my heart.

Mike got to know me very well and realized right away that the past broke my peace. I feared for a second that I might be overcome with jealousy, but I soon realized that Mike was not that kind of man. To my relief, Mike realized he was the only one I loved, but that the wounds of the past still hurt. Still, he knew, or at least I hoped he knew, that no one and nothing had any place between us. I only wanted him in my life!

I opened the door carefully, as I had the wedding night scene in my eyes and in my ears. I could hear, like a melody on repeat, Kevin’s words that I had heard when I was in a coma. It was worse than a nightmare. It felt like I had stepped into hell. Every step burned me to the core.

Before Olivia’s wedding, I stayed at Frank’s, and at Olivia’s wedding I had reservations, but the entire event got me through it very well. Deep down I felt the grief that was twisting me, but the family helped me a lot. I honestly didn’t understand why, after that accident, things were totally different. Why was the pain deeper? And why was Kevin’s ghost always following me? Why did it feel like I was being followed and at any moment I could be shot again?

“You know you don’t have to do this, but if you really want to, we’ll do it together,” said Mike as he took my hand.

I looked at him and that enormous house that seemed more heinous to me than a monster meant to destroy the last drop of power I had left. I could already feel the beads of sweat beginning to drip down my forehead. The whole past unfolded before me like a horror movie. I wanted to be strong, but there was something about that house that panicked me or rekindled the painful flames of a past I thought I had buried. But it seemed like there was still something to work out there, so I continued on my way. I paused when I reached the front door. I plucked up courage and opened it slowly, as I wanted to make sure there was no one in the house who could hurt us. When I walked in, I was all flushed, trying to hype myself up, but my fears were way too strong.

Olivia slamming the door was like icing on a cake. I was so scared that my body was shaking from every joint. It was like I went back in time when I got shot. I looked up at Mike, asking for help. He pulled me to him and took me in his arms.

“Everything’s okay. I have security here. There’s nothing to be afraid of.”

“Emily, come to us, darling. When you’re fully recovered, you can come back here,” Olivia told me. She patted me gently on the back, trying to encourage me.

I didn’t come back to life to be a coward, but I couldn’t conquer all my fears at once. However, I knew I had been sent back with a purpose. When I woke up, I felt like all the courage in the world had been given to me. I must face both my past and my fears.

“I must be able. I want to be able and I really will be able. I have the most precious thing by my side, so I have to be strong,” I said, looking into Mike’s eyes. “His infinite love brought me back to life. For that pure love, I must face all the fears and pains of the past.”

Mike brushed a strand of hair behind my ear that fell down my face, then kissed my forehead. He caressed me and smiled approvingly.

“We’ll face everything together. When I thought I lost you, I felt like the world ended there. Without you, I felt like I was in a bubble without oxygen. Everything was different. Even the sky was devoid of moon and stars, and the night became more and more oppressive and lifeless.” He kissed me again on the forehead, then squeezed my hand tightly and pulled me forward down the hallway.

I took small steps. Although my heart was beating faster and faster, I felt that with him, the hard things were easier to face. It always seemed like Kevin was with us. I winced at the slightest noise. When we walked out into the garden, it was a place full of memories. I felt like my legs wouldn’t listen to me. I sat down on the first available chair and cried.

“I can’t do this. Even though I want to, I can’t. Here I feel Kevin chasing me at every step,” I said through sobs.

“Baby, we don’t have to sit here and torment you. We stay at Frank’s until we get to another place. You know no one is after you. Kevin’s dead, honey. I know the accident was rough, but it can’t still be Kevin. It could have been anyone, Emily,” Mike said.

“I’m only so sure,” I said.

“What are you talking about?” Olivia yelled.

I took a deep breath, then told them about the voice I heard when I was in a coma. I explained why I was so panicked and why every step I took felt like I was being followed.

“You should have told me right away,” Olivia jumped up with her mouth at me.

“Please Olivia, this is not the time for this. Let’s calm down, then we can make a proper decision,” Mike interjected.

Mike was always a level-headed guy. Since I came out of my coma, he tried almost all the time not to stress me at all. He was very attentive and caring. And he wouldn’t even let me pick up a glass of water. He fed me like a little child and he even did my hygiene. Also, he wouldn’t let anyone near me except for a brief visit. He told me he didn’t want any silly talk around me and I understood him. Although I was very ashamed of him, I had to admit that his behavior flattered me. A greater proof of love could not exist.

“I promise to look into it. I’ll ask for the video footage from the hospital and see if anyone broke in when we weren’t there. That might help us find the killer.”

Olivia’s tone dropped considerably. I felt a little sorry for her for scolding Mike, but honestly, he was right.

“We can go. This place is not home,” I said in a lost voice.

I left without looking back. Maybe sometimes you needed to banish everything around you that reminded you of past tragedies in order to heal.

Things returned to normal as each day passed. It wasn’t long before we could get our own house. It was a dream come true. Mike and I had our own home. My dad lived with us, but he went over to Olivia’s often. I was happy that mom and dad’s relationship had improved considerably. Even Gaby was really enjoying our new family. We were truly the family I had dreamed of since childhood.

We were also enjoying amazing results professionally. I never thought I’d make it as an agent, but I was doing great. Mike was very successful. I hadn’t forgotten my old passion, either. I was always writing in my spare time.

Everything was perfect except my feeling that I was always being followed. Mike and my dad put cameras everywhere, but they caught nothing to prove I was right. Until one day, when Frank approved my fears.

“Kevin’s alive. He really was at your hospital, Emily. He wanted to kill you. I’ve been looking everywhere for him, but I haven’t found him yet.”

I felt my body melt like ice cream and I slumped in my chair. I wanted it to be just a nightmare, but it wasn’t. It was a harsh reality.

“I’ll kill him!” Mike screamed and ran.

“Mike, please don’t!..... Miiiiike!” I screamed as loud as I could.