Rose slammed the laptop shut and sobbed. She listened to David as he said comforting words, but she didn’t care. All the memories of her past rushed back into her mind like a flood. “I thought I was over it?” Rose questioned out loud. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqAn5pOiFg
She felt David’s hand on top of hers. “Hey Rose look at me.” Rose slowly opened her eyes as David continued “He won’t ever come back.”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOitv5YrwTx
“But…he’s due for parole in a few years. I don’t know if I can deal with that. I mean what if he comes into the precinct and-” 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxWJFb5wwW
“Nothing’s going to happen.” 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyjjAMfycS
Rose sighed trying to let his words sink in and then said, “How did Greg get the video anyway?”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1Z5k7RzoH
“I’m not sure. But we’ll get to the bottom of it.”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0LzzZCiEe
“Do you think I can walk around the hallways? I need some time to think and process.”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhRmtZdCgx
“You know the hospital staff won’t let you walk. I’ll try and get you a wheelchair.” 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡziYJiRILps
Rose felt David’s hand squeeze hers as he left the room. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9XUNeQPNO
****340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDNt5roIrv
“How can you be so stupid?”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIoF1V6jWPb
Rose was backed up against the wall near a hallway that led to their bedroom and she said “look I don’t know what in the world you’re talking about, but I have to go before I’m late for work.”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQuO7CqR1Pp
“It should be obvious I don’t care about your job.”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0MFJEqZFF
“Well, you apparently don’t contribute anything. I don’t know what happened to you, but you’ve changed. You reek of alcohol and cigarettes. You’re not the man I love or the man I’m going to marry.”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUeHxal0ks4
“Wait! You’re breaking up with me?” Rose could smell the Scotch on his breath as he stood only inches away from her.340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv26nQKqLFS
“I didn’t say that I-” Rose whispered.340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHanjJ6AMi
“You better get yourself in that bedroom. You remembered what happened last time?” her fiancé smirked. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXQ0C76jxu
Rose inhaled before placing her hands on his chest and pushing him. Rose glanced back as he stumbled backward and she sprinted past him. She snatched her car keys off the kitchen table. Rose ran toward the front door as she felt a sharp pain on the back of her head. “Stop!” Rose screamed before darkness consumed her.340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MOMzlwaJs
****340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HSGR9sBFN
Rose’s eyes shot open as she noticed David leaning against the side of her hospital bed. A nurse rushed into the room and said, “What’s wrong?” 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRD3dUMFAE1
“She was just screaming. I tried to wake her, but nothing worked. She finally woke up on her own a moment ago.”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrhzoLMYnP
“I’m fine. Just a bad dream.” Rose said as she shook her head. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0x2ffhtrA
“Are you sure you don’t need anything, Ms. Atwell?”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYaflyNZdU
“I’m okay Judy. Thanks for checking in on me.”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFxszjXbhc
“You’re welcome.” The nurse then left the room and softly shut the door behind her. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9Y0lNYfaN
“Are you sure it was just a bad dream?” David said. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCnWwpkyYy
Rose didn’t dare look at David. She could hear a chair scrape against the floor as he sat down near her bed. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqA9RNeielz
In a quiet voice, Rose replied “Maybe. I don’t know. I mean it was all so real. His hands all over me. I told him no. I told him to stop, but he didn’t care.” 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHD4uZv7wW4
“I promise you, Rose. I will do all that I can to make sure he never hurts you again.” 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCtYkiDrhy
Rose turned to David as tears fell down her cheeks. She was scared and frantic. Afraid of love and to put her heart out there once again. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrH4beTwMQp
****340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSvlPfMQDs
A knock on the door startled David as Captain Arie Weston walked in. “Sorry to disturb you both, but this letter was just dropped off at the station by the warden.” 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9kww3Ext5
“It’s not for me is it?” Rose said sheepishly. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAC6pHUEwNC
“No. It’s for David’s sister.” 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbcUliTCty
“Why didn’t you just give it to her?” David said standing up and walking towards the Captain. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nC4a42Yj2
“Greg wrote it and it has some interesting information.”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwBiXu0JEZ
Rose frowned and said, “So what does it say?”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mcdv4sLq8
“I’ll have David read it. I just wanted to let you know that Sarah may have to be brought back to the station for more questioning.”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwr0uqhgBkl
“She’s the victim. I don’t understand.”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptubDgzWKX
“Neither do I. What’s going on?” Rose said confused.340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtCH6mK034
“Did you know that Greg and Sarah have a history?” Captain said as she handed David the letter.340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDMNlE8399
“She doesn’t even know him. You don’t believe that monster do you?” David said in disbelief.340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJprt3aOZw
“No. We just have to cover all our bases. I would hate for the case to fall apart.”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnCroxU8E3
“We’re not even at trial yet.”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxixltYl1uj
“Give your sister a heads up. Maybe see what she says.”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlaifiDNtzi
David’s head was swimming with the possibility of what the letter contained. He needed to uncover the truth. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcafV1R6HY
****340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYN5HTj3RW1
David read the letter once more as Rose quietly slept. Captain Arie Weston had left a few hours ago. The moonlight was peaking through a crack in the window curtain. Staring out into the night sky David wondered why Sarah wouldn’t tell him everything. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MKFFGs9ER
He sent a quick text and typed “We just got some new information on your case. Please give me a call as soon as you can. Thanks.”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKK9K6ntyGc
David set his phone to vibrate then quietly slipped out of the hospital room. He walked passed the nurses station and through the many hallways. Right before he entered the main lobby a man called out to him “Detective Buckman.”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJslpFfL52K
David turned around as the man rushed towards him. “Can we talk?” the man said looking nervous.340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡggrC1WZLwz
“Who are you?” David said taking a step back unsure of the man. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyOxZfWoIr
“I’m Henry Croswell. One of your coworkers I believe his name was Jake told me I would find you here.”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3KPVjmaZu
“What do you need?” David questioned as he placed his hands into his coat pockets. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2AqrHGqRJ
“I know something about Dr. Victor Waterstein.”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgl9zDaoSz
“Let’s talk then. We can grab a coffee.”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gGC0D39gE
“Sure.”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyfeStIYPg
****340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoZyzuBHjx
After sitting down at a table near the end of the hospital cafeteria David asked Henry “So how long have you known Dr. Waterstein?”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgFqM4bDNb
“Well for about nine years. I don’t know what Jake has told you. I was once in a cult of sorts. It’s called AO2050 and a lot of crazy things happened. Dr. Waterstein was a member of the group. I’ve been friends with him off and on since then.”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvL6EEOedPL
“Why are you still talking to him?” David questioning taking a long sip of his coffee. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UEItS9jeU
“I was just about to get their Detective. Anyway, Dr. Waterstein told me to give this envelope to a woman named Sarah Matthews. He told me he was her therapist. I know I’m stupid for listening to him. I did it because he threatened me.”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzfJS4TbCi
David cleared his throat and censored his words as he replied, “So you just listened to him?”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAPWqQhilm
“He was going to hurt my family. I can’t let someone take them away from me.”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQiAAWEWITi
“Why didn’t you call the police?”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJBemMr3cs
“I have a record. I was unsure if they would even believe me.”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlHYrasEBi
“Do you know what was in the envelope?”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHiAasthmu8
“No, he didn’t tell me. He just instructed me to deliver the envelope to where Sarah was at and to make sure at least someone was home.”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDQfUUpla3
David pondered for a moment then said, “Has he threatened you before?”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCAk8KM7t7
“Umm…” David could see Henry was nervous as he fiddle with his coffee cup. “I can’t say anything.”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dMpl2CaQD
“But you’ve already told me Dr. Waterstein has threatened you for the second time.”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CzGoPpaU7
“I’m done talking with you.” 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhJVUDK3my
Henry stood up and threw away his cup. David followed behind Henry and said, “If you need or want to talk more please don’t hesitate to give me a call.”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdLPPMHhe3
“I won’t. Goodbye detective.”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzTAdfYoEH
David sighed, drank the rest of his coffee and then headed back to Rose’s room. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSr55uk2Btd
****340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBg8tQyau74
Rose awoke to only a dim light. A lamp on the bedside table illuminated the tiny space. She glanced around the room not seeing David anywhere. The letter addressed to Sarah from Greg was unfolded on the table. She brought the letter closer to her eyes so she could read it better. Rose took a quick sip of water before reading the letter aloud. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSaRzU9IQwl
“Dear my love Sarah, 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQBMdm5HAJ
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFASpWrKiQx
I can’t believe it’s been so long since I’ve seen you. I didn’t mean to terrify you at the diner. I’m so surprised you didn’t recognize me. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7ggllZBKL
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fBoYIy2ov
Throughout the years you’ve gotten more and more beautiful. Remember how we first met? I sat behind you in our literature class. I think I only said a few words to you that semester. The day Chris first began talking to you I was so angry and so hurt. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhkCRubNZ7
I love you better than that man ever could. From borrowing a pencil to joining you on a group project. He weaved his way into your life. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WNrvIkpCw
Then the next year I saw you wal-”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQ4Rrqf4gW
Rose was interrupted by David coming into her hospital room. He smiled at her and said, “I brought you some coffee.”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtivsAOore
“Thanks,” Rose replied as her voice, was raspy and dry. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalRS9wWRgA
“How are you feeling?” David sat as he sat the coffee cup on the bedside table.340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJUQyPilSP
“I’ve been better. I do feel rested which is nice.”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAs1RFKyxH
“Yes, it is. I also see you’ve read the letter.”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡToKF737V82
“I’m not finished yet. Do you mind if I read the rest out loud?”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ916xDOy9UP
“No, I don’t.”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PYqk1Ia85
“Alright.”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbojM7FMga
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKG8aNZkSR
“Then the next year I saw you walking hand and hand with him. You were meant to be mine. We’re so similar. I’m a painter. I love to describe and show the beauty of the world through my paintings. In fact, I’ve been working on paintings of you. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpV3rgsT0iV
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkaieEV8efg
I see your face when I fall asleep at night. I’m alone in this prison cell and there’s no one here to talk to so my thoughts are consumed on you. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8HKwzKn3Z
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1qk1xPNY1
Sarah, my beautiful sweetheart. You’re an author, a writer. You describe the world through smilies, metaphors, complex characters and relatable themes. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPiGeAF1iJ
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvMhfFx6nr
Back to when I saw you in college. I heard from a friend of a friend that you were engaged to Chris. I then ran into you at the dining hall one evening. You said hello to me even though my eyes couldn’t stop watching you. As you stood in line for dinner I could see your tiny diamond engagement ring shine as it sat delicately on your finger. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvip1lcn84d
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAjWSqNRcB
From that time on I’ve followed you in the shadows. I’ve seen your career rise. Social media is an interesting place. I could decipher your every move. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzukuVjTFB
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKaFzWFNou
Sarah, I’m so happy I’ve found you in person once again. I can’t wait for you to be mine. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2mWuK1BwP
340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYu35gKEN2j
From the one who loves you more than anyone,340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9BMp9VMdc
Greg Finch.”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4TYS4l2Sf
Rose threw the letter back onto the bedside table. She frowned and said, “What’s up with him?”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMmDnmhA53
“I don’t know Rose. He definitely needs help.”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKLokjNXCn
“Did you call the Captain?” Rose said glancing at the letter.340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHHtqZX02y
“She didn’t pick up. I know the case is getting to her. Plus she’s dealing with a divorce, so it’s understandable.”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZ2kWX4dp5
“How’s her custody battle?”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUruGgXlUGf
“I don’t think it’s going well. I stopped into her office the other day to ask her a quick question about another case. She was in tears. So I questioned her wanting to know if she was okay and she just nodded her head yes. I told her I would stop by later.” 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOdiZKmHUt
“What should we do about Greg?” Rose questioned as her mind raced with finding justice for Sarah. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT33SZnzEEg
“Our hands are tied. At least he’s in prison while we’re still getting more information on Odilia’s murder. Our jobs are just to find more evidence so we can create a stronger case when connecting him to Sarah’s assault.”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FYRNAUWiL
“It’s a shame the DNA evidence was compromised.”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhI2za0on3N
“I know, but things will work out. And Rose? If you ever need to talk about earlier-”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkKOETbXuu
“What do you mean?” Rose said sitting up in bed. 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQDOK4asg3
“The video. I understand if you don’t want to, but I know it will help.”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEaYNMfk63T
“I will when I’m ready.”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfiMj8Rjaah
“Okay then. I think I’m going to head out.”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyd9B02Hyq
“I thought you were staying?” Rose frowned.340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Fkt61uEH8
“It just hurts me to see you like this. I still can’t believe you went in and took the place of a hostage.”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdR29x2Pgw
Rose felt her eyes well up with tears and then she said, “I couldn’t let a civilian be possibly injured when I could do something about it.”340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rKk8CZIjv
“That’s why I’ve grown to love you. Always putting others before yourself.” 340Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zPgZBT0bH
Rose smiled and said, “All I can say is that I love you too.”
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