Page 30 of Jealous Stalker

I took care of your problem.

He won’t raise his voice at you again.

He won’t corner you again.

He won’t even look at you again—because now, he knows someone’s watching.

I didn’t have to touch him. Didn’t even have to raise my voice.

I just let him feel what it’s like to be alone with a shadow that doesn’t blink.

Does that make me a bad person?

Or just yours?

I don’t leave my reply where I usually do. I leave it on the seat in the living room.My seat.The ink still a little smudged from my fingers. Handwritten on thick black paper, scrawled in silver ink. It smells like me.

Then I wait.

I watch the hallway from the shadows. I see her come in, head lowered, scrub top wrinkled from a long shift. She opens the door. Steps inside.

Moments pass.

A beat. Another.

Then I watch her sway towards the note, slim fingers curling it open. She reads it for a long time, definitely more than once.

Then she presses it to her lips. Her gaze swings to the window and my heart stops. It’s impossible but she’s staring straight at me.

After several minutes, she turns the lamps out, pads to her bedroom, slips on the string around her wrist.

When I slip in later, the new note is waiting.

Her writing is softer this time. Curvier. A little more reckless.

Ella:

I should feel guilty. I should be afraid.

But I’m not.

I feel... wanted.

And if that makes me bad?—

Then let’s be bad together.

I’m taking an ambien. I won’t wake up even if the world stops.

Stay tonight…please.

And if you want a kiss in thanks for being my protector…take it.

CHAPTER 12

S.t.a.l.k.e.r

…if you want a kiss…take it.