Page 56 of White Walls (Asylum 2)

But I can’t help the overwhelmed feeling I get whenever I stare at my child. Mostly because I’m always wondering how I could have brought something so beautiful and perfect into the world. I can’t but feel the love for her swell inside of me every day and sometimes I wonder if at some point, I’ll be so full of love that I’ll explode.

Up ahead I hear the faint sound of tires screeching and drop my gaze to the windshield, just in time to prevent myself from hitting a man. The car ahead of me swerved off the road and the man is still standing in front of my car.

I see him.

I mean really see him and my heart stops beating.

My blood runs cold.

Every hair on my arms stands at attention.

No…

It can’t be.

It’s impossible.

The man stands before me, a silver locket laced through his fingers. I watch the locket swing back and forth, back and forth. My eyes travel up the length of his body and I choke on a sob when I look into hateful eyes.

This can’t be happening.

I saw him…

I saw him go away.

Didn’t I?

The man lets out a malicious laugh and I know now more than ever that he’s not a fabrication of my mind.

“No,” I cry and shake my head. “No.”

Willow finally wakes up, realizing the car has stopped and begins wailing. But I tune her out. I’m too focused on the man in front of me, clutching my locket. My locket!

The same man who inflicted years and years and year of pain, heartbreak, and terror on me. The man who was supposed to love me because I’m a part of him.

My daddy.