Find Me

25 • Unexpected

My lungs burn from running so far. I don't let it bother me though, I just keep going, not able to shake what Mom had just told me. My father didn't leave us...he was murdered by the person I now know as my stalker. There are many thoughts processing in my mind right now, but the main thing I'm wondering is, why would he come back to taunt me? He killed Dad, and now he wants to hurt our family even more, is that it?

I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket, but I don't dare look at it. I keep running, not knowing when I'll stop. Why didn't she tell me sooner? She made me hate my father for no reason whatsoever.

And I hate her for it.

I don't know how exactly I make it to the park, but I find myself sitting on the familiar bench Xavier and I met at almost every night when I snuck out of the house. I don't know if he'll come tonight, but something inside me hopes he does. Xavier is the only one I can trust the least bit anymore.

First Laura, now Dad. How many people has this guy killed? Will I be his next target? Will Xavier?

Will Mom?

I love you too much to let you go...

That phrase doesn't want to leave my memory, no matter how hard I try to banish it to the deepest parts of my mind. It's one of the scariest things he's ever said to me, and it's also probably the deadliest.

It's almost time Melanie. The plan is close to being complete...

But when? When is the plan to be complete? What exactly is this plan he has been speaking of?

Ask your mother about June 20th, 2000...

Is this what he wanted me to find out all along? That the date my stalker mentioned was actually the day of my father's murder? Or is it something deeper than that?

"Melanie?"

I notice the voice right away, and I let a sob escape my lips. "Xavier."

In a split-second, Xavier has me wrapped in his arms, while I cry in his chest. "I don't think I can do this anymore...I can't!"

"Hey, it's okay Mel," he soothes, rubbing my back with his hand gently. "What happened?"

"I just found out," I sniffle, "that...that Mom had lied about my father. Turns out he died instead of leaving us. He was murdered by my stalker. She had been lying to me almost my whole life, and I don't know if I can ever trust her again."

I bury my face into his chest again. "Why? Why can I not trust even my own mother?"

"You can trust me," Xavier murmurs, trying to coax me out of his shirt. He lifts my chin so that I'm looking straight into his eyes; his beautiful green eyes that I have drowned into so many times before. "I will always be here for you Mel, no matter what."