I jolted awake with a pounding headache. Ugh, what happened? I reached around my nightstand, feeling for a water bottle, but couldn't find any. Wait. What am I doing home? Oh my gosh!
I jumped out of bed, and immediately regretted it. Dizziness hit me like a wave, so I quickly sank back down onto the mattress.
My heart is pounding so hard I'm feeling it through out my whole body. How did I reach home?, I'm trying my best to stay calm to think clearly but Im too freaked out. This can't be happening.
I spotted my bag on the floor and reached for it, pulling out my phone. The time read 2:00 a.m. Why can't I remember anything? My heart started to race as I dialed Emma's number.
Please please pick up. Do they even know I'm missing!?. I'm feeling like I'm gonna throw up. It's ringing hopefully she picks up.
Suddenly, I heard footsteps pounding down the hallway, heading straight for my door. My grip on the phone tightened as my breath caught in my throat. I'm looking around my room for anything I can use to defend myself. See I should of listened to my mom when she told me to get a teaser. I'm definitely getting one now.
"Oh God, I'm not ready to die."
The door swung open with a crash, and Emma and Tasha rushed in. I exhaled, relieved, my chest tightening in the aftermath of holding my breath.
"Oh my gosh, Ria, are you okay?!" Tasha's voice cracked as she enveloped me in a hug.
"I'm fine, I think," I managed, wrapping my arms around her. Emma stood at the foot of the bed, tears streaming down her face.
"I'm so, so sorry, Ria. We shouldn't have left you alone."
I pulled away from Tasha and looked at them both. "Guys, I don't remember anything. What happened?" I asked, my voice shaky.
Emma and Tasha exchanged a glance. "You don't remember?" Emma asked, sitting beside me and holding my hand.
I shook my head slowly, my heart pounding harder.
"Sweetie, we don't know either," Emma started, her voice trembling. "We were at the bar when we saw security dragging a really badly beaten guy out of the club. One of them came up to us and handed us a note." Tasha reached into her bag and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper, handing it to me.
How could you leave her alone? She's home now. Go to her.
I read the words over and over again, trying to process them. Was someone helping me?. This is crazy and I'm starting to freak out again. It's like a Mandela effect but I'm the only one not remembering.
Emma squeezed my hand. "We found out later that it was one of the guys we were with, the one who was beaten," she said, her voice breaking. "Ria, he tried to—he tried to have his way with you."
My eyes widened. What? My chest felt tight, and my stomach dropped. I crumpled the paper in my hand. Suddenly, images flashed in my mind. I remembered knocking him over, trying to get away... then he grabbed me. He put something over my mouth and nose, and after that—nothing. I had passed out.
"I—I don't remember anything else," I whispered, the panic rising in my chest.
Tasha rubbed my back, her voice soothing. "I'm just glad you're okay now."
I smiled weakly at her. "Em, I'm fine. You can stop crying," I said, trying to comfort her. She looked at me, still on the edge of tears.
"Ria, things could have been so much worse if that guy hadn't helped you."
"Did you see who it was?" I asked, my voice small.
She shook her head. "No, we just got the note."
I sighed, my mind racing. Who would have done that? Who was looking out for me?. This is freaking me out.
"Okay, let's let you rest," Tasha said, standing up. She placed a water bottle on the nightstand before they both hugged me tightly and left the room. The door clicked shut behind them.
I read the note again, trying to make sense of it all. Who could have saved me? After a while, I tucked it away in my drawer and drank the water Tasha left for me. I stood up, my head still spinning, and decided to take a shower and get some much-needed sleep. But first I need to scrub away the events of tonight.
°~°
The sound of my alarm jolted me awake. Why couldn't I sleep in today? I definitely deserved it. I reached over and turned it off, groaning in frustration. I don't want to go to work today, and if I'm being honest I'm kinda scared too. What if I run into that creep.
No I don't think I can do it.
I pulled my knees up to my chest trying to calm down my breathing. I closed my eyes shut trying my best not to think about how his hands felt on me. I need to calm down.
You know what? Today's a new day. And unlike most people, I didn't have the luxury of wallowing in self-pity. I had rent to pay, loans to deal with—ugh, loans. I needed to get back on track with paying them off.
I reluctantly got out of bed and headed for the shower, mentally preparing for another busy day at the elderly home.
I gathered my painting supplies and made my way to the kitchen,I took a deep breath and put on a brave face to prepare myself to face my friends.When I entered the kitchen Emma and Tasha were already having coffee.
"Morning, guys," I said, forcing a smile as I greeted them.
"You're going to the center today?" Tasha asked, concern written all over her face.
"Ugh, please don't do that," I replied, filling my cup with tea. "I'm fine, and yes, I'm going. We have rent to pay and I have bills due".
Tasha gave me a skeptical look. "Okay, but Ria you can take a day off u don't need to act brave"
"I know but going to work is better than me staying home trying to act okay" I kissed her on the cheek and grabbed my bags, heading for the door. "Bye, my loves!"
"Have a good day!" Em called after me.
I stepped outside and waved at Jacob, our neighbor, as I walked past. He lived in the apartment next door. With his nerdy glasses and perfect body, he was a bit of a contradiction. The tattoos were the icing on the cake.
"Good morning, Ria-Marie. Off to work?"
"Yup!" I smiled, my mood lifting a little. "Have a nice day!"
I made my way down the stairs carefully, balancing my bags. Once safely out the door, I tossed everything in my car and set off.
The traffic was horrendous. Damn Sando traffic—normally, it's smooth, but not today. I finally arrived at the elderly center, twenty-five minutes later than usual, cursing under my breath.
"Good morning, Ria!" Nurse Mabel greeted me, rushing over to help with my bags.
"Morning, Nurse Mabel. Thanks," I replied with a smile. We made our way to the art room, where everyone was already seated, ready to paint.
"Good morning, everyone!" I greeted them warmly.
"Good morning, Ria!" they all chimed in with cheerful smiles. They were seriously my favorite people.
Time passed, and surprisingly, the room was calm today. Normally, someone would be causing a ruckus, but today, everyone was focused. Miss Eva had insisted on painting her son, but who was I to refuse? I walked around, checking on everyone's work and offering help when needed. Most of them weren't artists, but it was the process that mattered, the therapy.
I walked to the back of the room when my phone rang. It was Tasha.
"Hey, Tash, what's up?"
"Ria, are you still at work?" Her voice was shaky, and it immediately set off alarm bells in my head.
"Yeah, why? Is everything okay?"
"Just turn on the news."
I glanced around, looking for the remote, and quickly turned on the TV. The news station was already running the story.
"A man who was beaten at The Vybz Club last night was brought to the hospital for treatment. Unfortunately, we're saddened to report that he was murdered just a few hours ago on the hospital rooftop. He suffered twenty stab wounds—nineteen to his stomach and chest, and one to his neck..."
My heart stopped. The words hit me like a punch to the gut. I stared at the TV, unable to move.
"Ria? Ria, are you there?" Tasha's voice came through the phone, frantic.
"Yeah, I'm here," I whispered, trying to process the shock. "Tash, do you think—"
"Yes, the guy Em was talking about... he called her. It's the same guy who was harassing you."
My stomach twisted in horror. The man who had tried to hurt me... was now dead. Someone had killed him.