Page 5 of She Belongs to Me

“I need to get to my aunt first. Be safe.”

“You too, but this is crazy.”

Yeah, it was.

There were far too many horrible thoughts racing through my mind. I was crazed and uncertain, trying to figure out what to do. I’d need to stay at a hotel tonight, but where?

My aunt would freak, but at least my cousin, who often stayed at my aunt’s house, was vacationing with friends.

My aunt didn’t have my same last name and technically, I wasn’t attached to her legally since the death of my mom and dad, but I had a bad feeling they’d find her anyway.

I flew down the highway, almost daring the cops to stop me and praying there wouldn’t be a traffic jam. Thankfully, I made it to the hospital without incident, doing my best to hide my car and running inside. She worked on the fourth floor normally, but she could be doing patient rounds.

I flew into the elevator, my entire vision foggy. The damn steel box couldn’t have moved any more slowly at this point.

When I came to a hard stop against the nurse’s station, the nurse was startled as hell. Thank God, they all knew me here.

“Jesus, Alex. You almost gave me a heart attack. Are you okay?” the nurse asked, her hand placed over her heart. Jaime’s eyes were open wide.

“Where is my aunt?”

“Is something wrong?”

“Jaime, can you please get my aunt for me? Please?”

She was in shock for a minute, but nodded. “She’s just getting done with rounds.”

“Thank you.”

Hurry. Hurry!

It took almost five minutes before Aunt Kim walked toward me, a concerned look on her face.

“Jaime said something is wrong. What’s going on, Alex?”

I pulled her aside, taking deep breaths. “I don’t have time to tell you everything, but promise me you will go stay somewhere else tonight.”

“What? What are you telling me?”

“Please! Just do it. Okay? Can you go stay with Margie?” It was her best friend.

“Yes, I could, but tell me what is going on. Are you in some kind of trouble?”

“In a manner of speaking. Leave the hospital and go there. Okay? I will try and call you later. I promise. I’ll explain everything then. Can you promise me that?”

“You’re scaring me.”

I was scaring myself.

“I’ll be fine. Please. Promise.”

“Okay,” Aunt Kim said, her voice exasperated. “I promise, but you better call me.”

“I will.” I backed away, becoming fearful I’d never see her again. It was all I could do to keep the tears from falling.

The race down the stairs to avoid the elevator was more like a stumble. I was more distraught than I’d been in years, holding back sobs because they wouldn’t do any good. After almost crawling to my car, I made it without being detected.

Once inside, the doors locked, I allowed a single tear to fall. I had to get some clarity, to be able to think. Maybe driving a little would help.