That probably wasn’t my smartest idea. The streets were completely empty and every five seconds I could hear some weird noise that made my heart skipped a beat. I was constantly looking over my shoulders. I knew there was nobody following me but I was still paranoid. My house was only ten minutes from here, if I ran I could make it in six but I was too afraid to move my legs any faster. I felt something holding me back or was it someone?

My heart went into a frenzy when I saw the shadow of a man behind me. It was dark so I couldn’t see his face but I knew he was taller and stronger than me. He appeared to be wearing a hoodie over his head. His steps were light, I couldn’t even hear them. If I didn’t look over my shoulders I could never have guessed that there was someone behind me.

I tighten my own hoodie on my body then turned left. When he did the same, I immediately took my phone out of my pockets. I was trying to dial 911 but my fingers were also against me. I kept on pressing the wrong button. When I finally dialed the right number my heart was ready to pop out of my chest.

“911, what’s your emergency?” responded the operator.

I made a horrible mistake which could have very well cost me my life. I looked over my shoulder and before I knew it I was on the floor, face against the cold pavement. I briefly looked behind me and I saw the man just a couple steps away from me. His posture kind of reminded me of someone but I was not about to stay here to find out. I swiftly got on my feet and ran for my life.

“Hey, wait up,” said the guy behind me. He was catching up with me. I could hear how close his voice was. “Nicole, wait.”

He knew my name. How did he know my name? My curious side was begging me to stop to find out but my other side was having none of it. My curiosity rationalized that the man’s posture did look familiar and he knew my name perhaps he did know me. However, before I could think it over. A hand gripped my elbow and I screamed my lungs out. I closed my eyes tightly and screamed some more. I think I had a full thirty seconds of screaming before I reached inside my pockets and sprayed the guy straight in the face without even looking. Then, I ran.

I didn’t look behind me this time. I’ve learned my lesson so I just kept on running while looking straight ahead. Since the universe seemed to be against me tonight, I tripped on my own two feet and fell, again. This time I knew I was screwed.

“What’s going on out here?” demanded someone coming out of a corner. A bright light flashed in my eyes making them burn. I covered my eyes with me hands. “Are you alright, miss?” asked the man that now I can see was wearing a police uniform.

“Someone’s following me.” I didn’t recognize my voice. It was trembling and filled with fear. The officer turned around to look at the direction I came from. The man was still there but he wasn’t moving. He seemed frozen in the middle of the road.

“Hey you, come here,” called out the officer but the man chose to run instead of following his orders.

“Ughh, why do they always run?” I heard him mutter under his breath before running after my stalker. “Stop running. That’s an order.”

I heard their footsteps still running a few seconds later before a loud groan echoed in the air.

“Why did you run then?” questioned the police office.

“Because a dumb ass cop was chasing me, obviously.” The guy was frantically wiggling trying to get out of the handcuffs.

As they approached me, I tried to make out his face. He had a boyish face with overgrown eyebrows as dark as his hair. His pink full lips were set into an arrogant grimace. Wait a minute, I know him. It was the creepy stalker from school.

“You again?” I asked confused while they were passing by me.

“Hi, Nikkie.” He winked at me with a smile on his face.

“Ok, get in,” said the officer pushing him in the back of the car. “Are you going to be okay?” He asked turning back to me.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” I shrugged him off but my body was still trembling.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to give you a ride home?” He sounded concern.

“No, my house is just a few minutes that way.” I said pointing to my right.

“Okay, walk faster and next time, don’t stay out so late.” He advised.

“I’ll keep that in mind.” My eyes shifted to the guy on the back seat. I didn’t even know his name but I was sure he’s been going to the same school as me for more than a year. I was convinced that I’ve seen him before but I couldn’t recall anything. When he sensed someone was looking at him, he raised his head and his hazel eyes locked with mine. He smirked at me when I couldn’t look away.

“Off you go,” said the officer while getting inside the car.

“Ok, thanks.” I answered then started to walk away. As soon as the police car was gone, a tremor ran through me. Noises amplified once more. I was not about to make the same mistake twice so I ran straight home. I didn’t look back once until I reached the door of my house. I was so nervous that I couldn’t think straight to remember where I put the key. A barking a few miles away got my blood pumping faster than normal. I began to pound on the door and scream at my dad to open the door.

“Nikkie,” my dad opened the door with a confused look on his face. “What’s going on?” He asked after he looked over my shoulder.

I didn’t bother answering him. I shoved past him and ran upstairs. I dropped unto my bed then closed my eyes waiting for my heart rate to return to normal.

“Nikkie, what happened?” I could hear my father’s voice in the door way.

“Somebody was stalking me tonight.” I stated simply. I tried to make it sound like no big deal so he didn’t freak out but there was no not freaking out with my dad.

“What? What happened? Where is he? Did he touch you?” He shouted all at once. I opened my eyes and sat on the bed.

“Dad, I’m fine. The police came and they took him.” I reassured him but his eyes still had that murderous look in them.

“Oh God, I’m going to kill that son of a bitch. I’m going to show him what happen when someone try to hurt my baby girl.” He was pacing around the room with his fists clenched by his side.

“First of all I’m not a baby anymore. I’ll be eighteen in just a few weeks. Second, you’re sick so you’re not exactly in your best state to hurt people.” I stated trying to be calm but I probably shouldn’t have mentioned the sick part. The room grew silence for a few seconds before my dad looked me straight in the eyes and said,

“Just because I’m sick doesn’t mean I can’t protect you anymore. And yes you are still a baby. You’ll always be a baby to me. You’ll always be my baby and I will make sure that anyone who hurt you pays for it.” Then he slammed the door shut.

I stared at the door without really seeing it. I don’t know where the tears came from but there was a waterfall streaming down my face. My vision became blurry then I couldn’t hold it anymore. I rolled into my side and curled into a fetus position. I cried my eyes out for most of the night before I felt asleep.

That night I didn’t dream of movies and fictional characters trying to kill me but instead I saw my mother laughing at me. It wasn’t her sweet laugh that warmed my heart every time I heard it. It wasn’t the laughter I remember from my mom. It was a cynical laugh. She was looking at me lying on the streets with no home, no family and she was laughing at me. It was as if she was enjoying my misery. I knew she was because my life started going downhill when she left me all alone. My dad barely knew how to raise a kid so I kind of raised myself. I hated her for that.

I spent the entire night fighting her off. I tried to be strong and make her go away but she wouldn’t leave. Then, I tried to leave but something was holding me back. I was stuck in the dark, empty alley with nothing to cover me from the freezing air. My mother’s cold laugh was just making it worse. I fought and I fought until I finally woke. In my mind, I spent hours being torture by mother’s voice but a glance toward my alarm clock showed me that it only lasted thirty minutes.

I didn’t want to go back to bed. I didn’t want to see the cold woman laughing at me again. Therefore, I got up and left the room. I passed my father’s room on my tiptoes because I knew he was a light sleeper and I didn’t want to wake him up. When I reach downstairs, I went straight to the kitchen and opened the fridge. I took out the milk cartoon then went to one of the cabinet to get the box of Oreos. I poured myself a glass of milk then went to sit down in the living room. I turned on the television but almost everything seemed boring. Even Cop Out couldn’t keep my attention for longer than ten seconds. I flipped through for a good five minutes before I settled for Charlie and The Chocolate Factory. I felt into a dreamless slumber by the time Charlie discovered a golden ticket.

The following morning I woke up to something wet dipping down my face. I looked up to find my dad and Roxie standing above me while she poured water on my face.

“She’s awake, you can stop now,” my dad told Roxie taking the glass away from her.

“What’s wrong with you?” I dried my face with my T-shirt. “Can’t a girl sleep in peace?”

“She can when she doesn’t have school to attend.” My dad answered right away.

“Come on, we’re going to be late.” Roxie cried shaking me.

“Couldn’t you guys have used a gentler way to wake me up instead of half drowning me?” I yawned.

Roxie rolled her eyes. “And people think I’m the drama queen in this relationship.”

“We’ve been trying to wake you up for about a half hour now.” My dad explained. “How do you think you ended up on the floor?”

“I’m on the floor?” I exclaimed.

“How could you not feel your body hitting the ground?”

I heard Roxie snickered on the couch. “That’s because she does it every day by herself.” She murmured. I shot her a dirty look but she simply ignored it.

“Go get ready, you have ten minutes.” She said with her eyes fixed on her phone.

I knew I had to go to school but I wanted to have a lazy day today. I didn’t feel like doing anything besides sleeping, eating, and killing my brain cells with too much television. I plunged my hands into my hair and pulled them trying to get the last bit of sleep out of my system.

“What are you still doing here? Go, go go!!!” Roxie yelled at me.

“Okay, I’m going.” This was the last thing I wanted to do but I knew those two were capable of anything to get me exactly where they wanted me to be. Fighting was always worthless against them. I went into the bathroom to get a quick shower and returned to my bedroom to get dress. I only put on a blue jeans, a white T-shirt, and a gray hoodie. I didn’t have time for fancy clothes that would make Roxie proud of me today. On a second thought, I never had time for fancy clothes and I didn’t even own any. My closet was basically jeans, T-shirts, hoodies, and converses. I think I had a dress in there somewhere.

“What’s taking so long?” My dad said behind me.

“Nothing, I’m all done.” I turned around to see my dad looking directly at me with a shadow of despair on his face.

“What is it dad?” I asked him.

“I can’t believe this is probably the last year we have left together.” He let out.

“Dad, you don’t know that.” I tried to comfort him but he wouldn’t listen to reason.

“Yes, I do. You’re going to college next year. You’re going to become all grown up and forget all about your old man. By the time you come back for Christmas break I’ll be on my death bed. Then, I’ll be dead by Spring break. Then, you’re going to be all alone. I can’t believe I’m having my last moments on earth with me baby girl.”

“Dad, seriously you’re being melodramatic.” I argued. “There are treatment. You’re not going to die anytime soon. You’re certainly won’t die alone.”

“But that’s your dream. You’ve always wanted to go to another state to study, to explore the world. I wanted to give you that but with all the bills and…”

“It’s okay dad. You don’t have to apologize for anything. Trust me, we’ll get through this. I won’t leave you.” I assured him.

“How did I did get such a great daughter?” He pulled me into a tight hug.

“You’re just one of the lucky ones.” I joked.

“Nikkie, let’s go. We’re late.” Roxie shouted downstairs.

“I’m coming.” I yelled back but the door was already slammed shut.

“Not in my ear, Nikkie. I’m already half deaf.” My dad scolded.

Sorry, I mouthed while hurrying downstairs. By the time I reached the kitchen, Roxie was already honking the hell of the car. I ran to her car before she could wake up the entire neighborhood.