Me. Her. Him - Chapter 52

by Jacob1395

Background
Angela has spent nearly half her life hiding from a man in her past. But when he finally tracks her down, it isn't him she's scared of. It's what he knows.

Background: Angela is shocked when William, an old friend from her past, who she hoped never to see again, comes back into her life, after he applies for a role at her work and successfully secures the job. William’s sudden reappearance puts Angela on edge. She’s terrified he’s discovered her secret, which she needs to protect her family from. William’s convinced Angela knows what happened to his former girlfriend, Caz, who hasn't been seen for twenty years, and that something terrible happened to her. The only person, who can help Angela, is her once best friend, Michelle, but Angela hasn’t seen Michelle for more than a decade. Faced with the threat of William’s return, they know they’ll need to work together to save their future, even if this does mean reopening old wounds, and revisiting a past they'd rather keep buried.

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October 2001

‘We’ve got two weeks haven’t we, before the clocks go back?’ Michelle asks, hands on her hips.

She’s standing in the middle of the living room, looking at the clock on the wall. I think she’s just trying desperately to fill the silence.

‘Yeah,’ I say, not lifting my eyes from the page of the book I’m reading.

Michelle begins to speak but stops. I’ve heard what’s interrupted her. The front door.

‘Who the hell could that be at this time of night?’ Michelle says.

‘I'll find out. Don’t worry, I’ll get it,’ I say.

I get up from the sofa and hurry into the hallway. Perhaps it’s one of the neighbours asking if we’ve had a parcel delivered for them. Michelle’s right, it’s an odd time for anyone to knock. It’s approaching ten p.m. Despite the fact that we’ve lived here for a good few years now, we’ve still barely got to know the people who live next door. I pull open the door. My heart stops.

Caz is standing there.

‘Oh thank God you’re still here,’ she says, her voice coming out low. ‘I kept telling myself that you were going to be long gone and coming here would be a waste of time.’

I open my mouth, but I’m barely able to get my words out. It’ll be two years in a few months’ time since we last saw her. Two whole years. What the hell is she doing here? She told us she never wanted to see us again after I accused William of stealing from me. There are deep rings under her eyes. It looks as though she’s dragged herself all the way across London on foot. Her jeans are splattered in mud. Mascara is running down her face and her red hair is all over the place.

‘What . . . what are you doing here?’ I ask.

I almost want to reach out and pinch myself; to confirm what I’m seeing is real.

Her eyes fill with tears and she looks like as though she’s about to fall flat on her face. She grabs hold of the side of the door. ‘I’m sorry. I wouldn’t have bothered you at all, you know, but you were the only person I could think of, there’s no way I can go home. Please, I . . . . I need your help.’

My head swarms with questions. She needs our help. What the hell has happened?

I should slam the door in her face; tell her to look for help somewhere else. That’s what Michelle will be expecting me to do.

But I find myself pulling her in for a hug and closing the door behind us. She buries her face into my neck and sobs her heart out.

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Character List:

Angela Watkins - Protagonist

Paul Watkins - Angela's husband

Rebecca Watkins - Angela's daughter

Michelle Blake - Angela's former best friend

Kirsty - Receptionist (Angela's friend)

Olivia - Angela's boss

William Harris - Angela's former friend