Footprints In The Sand - Michelle Horst Page 0,31

He’ll never be able to hurt anyone again. He tried to contact me once. He must be totally crazy if he thinks I want any kind of contact with him!

I’ve finished my studies and now have to make another big decision in my life, what do I want to do? I’m not sure where to go from here. That’s another thing about being a kid, you live in a small world. When you become an adult and you have to make your own choices that world becomes awfully huge. It’s scary sometimes, but I won’t back down. I’ve come this far already, I’ll make it all the way.

Aunt Janice moved back to the city when I started college. She always made sure I was taken care of and we made time for each other on Sundays. She is such a blessing in my life.

Luckily, I still have money left after my studies. I’m tempted to go back packing through Europe, but then again, maybe I should start my own business.

It’s the first Saturday after my graduation and I want to surprise Aunt Janice. She’s been spending so much time at work. When I call she’s always busy baking something. I normally see her on Sundays, but I’m sure she won’t mind the surprise visit.

I park outside the building and appreciate the view as I walk to her apartment. I knock and when there’s no answer, I open the door. She’s like a mother to me, she wouldn’t mind if I let myself in. I go in and softly let the door close behind me. “Aunt Janice?” I hear water running and I assume she’s in the bathroom. I decide to wait for her and take a seat in the living room.

A door opens and I hear someone humming. It doesn’t sound like Aunt Janice. I get up and look down the passage to see where Aunt Janice is, when I see a woman wrapped in towels. She has one around her head and one around her body, so I can’t see much of her. She glances in my direction and all I see is a blur of blue. With a shriek she darts into a room and slams the door shut behind her. I couldn’t make out much of her, as she had on one of those facial masks. I don’t understand why women put that stuff on their face.

“Aunt Janice?” I try again and then I hear a muffled, “She’s at the café,” from behind the closed door.

“Okay, thanks,” I call out and make sure to close the apartment door as I leave. That was actually funny. I have to remember to ask Aunt Janice who that is. I didn’t know anyone was living with her.

~*~

Chapter Twenty-Nine

(Four years later …)

Lacey~

It’s my day off. Jan takes off on Sundays and I get Saturdays, that way we both at least get one day off a week. If it’s quiet we’ll take an afternoon here and there. It works for us. I love working at the café, it might not be something huge, but it makes me happy. I have a place to stay. I have food and a bed to sleep in, and I don’t need much more. I’m also aware that Jan pays me a lot, and I’ll be forever grateful for her. She’s my guardian angel.

I always pamper myself on a Saturday morning. I do it all, from a facial mask to a pedicure. I only know Jan and the girls in apartment eight, and they all work on Saturdays, so I use the time to relax. We normally go for drinks on a Saturday night, but I just stay for one drink as I have to work the next day. Sometimes they only come home as I get ready to head out to work. They’re a crazy trio of friends, but they brighten my days.

After a nice warm shower, I put on my facial mask. I rinse my hands and adjust the towel on my head as it starts to slide to the side. It’s time for my pedicure while I wait for the mask to dry. I open the bathroom door and all the steam escapes as I walk to my room.

Something catches my eye and I glance casually in the direction of the lounge. All I see is a huge man before terror sets in. I scream and run into my room. I lock the door and grab my phone so I can dial 911, when