officer took me over
to his car, and I had the sinking fear that I would be cuffed and
thrown in the slammer for what I’d done to my father. My emotions
once again bombarded me and I broke out into a horrible sob. Tyler
was still on the porch giving his account of what took place and
every so often he would glance my way, almost letting me know that
everything would be fine. Somehow with him around I knew I would be
just that.
After talking to the
officer for about an hour, he asked if I needed medical attention.
I told him no, and he thanked me, letting me go to
Tyler.
“Tyler, I’m sorry I
dragged you into this mess, I had no intention of doing
so.”
“I’m just glad I came back
when I did.”
“Why did you come
back?”
“Let’s not worry about
that right now.” He sighed.
I wondered what had been
so damn important that he would come back. I was so glad he did,
but my mind was racing with possibilities.
I knew that I couldn’t
stay in this place a minute longer, but my flight wasn’t scheduled
to depart until the next morning. The police told me I was free to
go, and so I decided to drive into Dallas and stay at a hotel near
the airport.
“Maggie, you can stay at
Jake and Emily’s tonight, you don’t have to get a hotel
room.”
“No, I really need to be
alone. Its better this way.”
I kissed him lightly on
his whisker roughened cheek, and told him goodbye. I didn’t look
him in the eyes because I knew that if I did, I would crumble and
not be able to part with him. I slid into the seat of my rental
car, closed the door and started the engine. I was running
again.
The entire drive to my
hotel was filled with reflection of the events of the day, and all
I wanted to do was continue to weep. I had to be stronger than
that, I needed to pull my boot straps up and go on with the life
I’d been given. I wouldn’t mourn the loss of my father, after all
he was no father to me, only a nightmare that I was finally rid of.
I would no longer wake in a sweat at night with the visions of him
over me. I would no longer let him dictate what I did and how I did
it. I was finally free.
Twenty-Five
Seven a.m. came early the
next morning, my luggage was packed and ready, and my rental car
was turned in. All there was left to do was board the plane that
would take me back to Chicago. I was relieved and sad all at the
same time. I pushed back the thoughts of Tyler, and boarded the
plane. I wouldn’t come back to this place, the place of my fears
ever again. My old life was waiting for me in the windy city and I
was happy to be going back.
When the plane landed at
O’Hare in Chicago, I got off the aircraft and headed to baggage
claim. I heard a familiar squeaky voice calling my name.
“Mags!”
I turned to see Hayley
running toward me with her arms open wide. She crashed into me
almost taking me to the ground, and wrapped her arms around my
body.
“Oh my God, I missed you
so much Mags!”
“I missed you too.” I
laughed.
“Come on I’m parked in the
fire lane, we have to hurry before my car is towed.” She grabbed my
bags and pulled me toward the exit doors.
We settled into her car
and pulled away from the airport. I was happy to have my best
friend with me again, and couldn’t wait to tell her about
everything that transpired in Texas.
“You look lost Mags,
what’s wrong?” She prodded.
“Nothing, I’m just happy
to be home that’s all.” I smiled.
We rode in relative
silence back to my condo on Lakeshore Drive. Hayley must have
sensed that I wished to be alone, she didn’t offer to come up like
she always had before. When she drove away, I went into my building
and rode the elevator to the floor where my condo was. I slipped my
key into the lock and pushed the door open. It was so lonely
stepping into my empty place, and it was funny that I’d never
noticed it before. I wondered what it would be like to have Tyler
here. He would make my place so much more warm and inviting.
to his car, and I had the sinking fear that I would be cuffed and
thrown in the slammer for what I’d done to my father. My emotions
once again bombarded me and I broke out into a horrible sob. Tyler
was still on the porch giving his account of what took place and
every so often he would glance my way, almost letting me know that
everything would be fine. Somehow with him around I knew I would be
just that.
After talking to the
officer for about an hour, he asked if I needed medical attention.
I told him no, and he thanked me, letting me go to
Tyler.
“Tyler, I’m sorry I
dragged you into this mess, I had no intention of doing
so.”
“I’m just glad I came back
when I did.”
“Why did you come
back?”
“Let’s not worry about
that right now.” He sighed.
I wondered what had been
so damn important that he would come back. I was so glad he did,
but my mind was racing with possibilities.
I knew that I couldn’t
stay in this place a minute longer, but my flight wasn’t scheduled
to depart until the next morning. The police told me I was free to
go, and so I decided to drive into Dallas and stay at a hotel near
the airport.
“Maggie, you can stay at
Jake and Emily’s tonight, you don’t have to get a hotel
room.”
“No, I really need to be
alone. Its better this way.”
I kissed him lightly on
his whisker roughened cheek, and told him goodbye. I didn’t look
him in the eyes because I knew that if I did, I would crumble and
not be able to part with him. I slid into the seat of my rental
car, closed the door and started the engine. I was running
again.
The entire drive to my
hotel was filled with reflection of the events of the day, and all
I wanted to do was continue to weep. I had to be stronger than
that, I needed to pull my boot straps up and go on with the life
I’d been given. I wouldn’t mourn the loss of my father, after all
he was no father to me, only a nightmare that I was finally rid of.
I would no longer wake in a sweat at night with the visions of him
over me. I would no longer let him dictate what I did and how I did
it. I was finally free.
Twenty-Five
Seven a.m. came early the
next morning, my luggage was packed and ready, and my rental car
was turned in. All there was left to do was board the plane that
would take me back to Chicago. I was relieved and sad all at the
same time. I pushed back the thoughts of Tyler, and boarded the
plane. I wouldn’t come back to this place, the place of my fears
ever again. My old life was waiting for me in the windy city and I
was happy to be going back.
When the plane landed at
O’Hare in Chicago, I got off the aircraft and headed to baggage
claim. I heard a familiar squeaky voice calling my name.
“Mags!”
I turned to see Hayley
running toward me with her arms open wide. She crashed into me
almost taking me to the ground, and wrapped her arms around my
body.
“Oh my God, I missed you
so much Mags!”
“I missed you too.” I
laughed.
“Come on I’m parked in the
fire lane, we have to hurry before my car is towed.” She grabbed my
bags and pulled me toward the exit doors.
We settled into her car
and pulled away from the airport. I was happy to have my best
friend with me again, and couldn’t wait to tell her about
everything that transpired in Texas.
“You look lost Mags,
what’s wrong?” She prodded.
“Nothing, I’m just happy
to be home that’s all.” I smiled.
We rode in relative
silence back to my condo on Lakeshore Drive. Hayley must have
sensed that I wished to be alone, she didn’t offer to come up like
she always had before. When she drove away, I went into my building
and rode the elevator to the floor where my condo was. I slipped my
key into the lock and pushed the door open. It was so lonely
stepping into my empty place, and it was funny that I’d never
noticed it before. I wondered what it would be like to have Tyler
here. He would make my place so much more warm and inviting.
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