CHAPTER FIVE
Anya
I sit on Jacob’s lap for what feels like an eternity, clutching him as if he’s my lifeline. Over the past few months, he has been my rock, always knowing exactly how to comfort me. But this situation with the stalker is overwhelming my mind, leaving me unable to think clearly.
How can I burden him with this? But also, how can I bear it alone? The fear gnaws at me, twisting my thoughts into knots. Part of me wants to push him away, to shield him from the chaos invading my life. But the other part—the part that's clinging to him right now—desperately needs his presence, his strength. I don’t know if I’m strong enough to handle this on my own, but I’m terrified of dragging him down with me.
I finally look up at him, my voice barely a whisper, “Can you stay with me tonight?” My words hang in the air, heavy with the fear and uncertainty I’ve been trying to suppress.
Jacob gently strokes my cheek, his touch grounding me. He leans his forehead against mine, his breath warm and reassuring. “Of course, baby,” he murmurs softly before kissing my forehead. In that moment, his simple promise feels like a lifeline, anchoring me amidst the turmoil swirling in my mind.
We both lay down, and I nestle against him, resting my head on his chest while his arm wraps securely around me. Jacob has always had a way of making me feel safe, especially when I am in his arms. The steady rhythm of his heartbeat brings comfort, yet a twinge of sadness pulls at me. In just a few weeks, he’ll be gone for nine long weeks. I know he committed to the Army before meeting me and that it’s something he truly wants to do, given his love for military history. But the thought of being without him, especially with the stalker situation looming over me, fills me with dread. I will miss his warmth, his strength, his unwavering support.
I've never been one to feel the need to lean on a man to fix my problems, but Jacob is different. It's a rare and comforting feeling to have someone I can trust completely, someone who will do anything to protect me. As much as I pride myself on my independence, I can't deny how much I rely on him, how much I need him right now.
I drift off to sleep in his arms, and although my dreams are filled with shadows and fear, the feeling of his warmth is a constant reminder that I'm not alone and that no matter what happens, he will be there to help me through it. When I wake up, it is barely light out, he is still holding me close. His calm, steady breathing grounds me, wrapping me in a sense of safety and comfort. Each slow inhale and exhale quiets the storm of thoughts in my mind, reminding me that right now, everything is okay. Being close to him like this makes me feel at peace, like I can just breathe and let go of my worries. Even though I know our time together is limited, his calmness reassures me that we’ll find a way to make it through. With a gentle nudge I wake him up and stare up at his kind blue eyes.
"Thank you for staying with me," I whisper, my voice hoarse from sleep.
"Anything for you, sweetheart," he replies, his voice full of love.
We spend the morning in each other's arms, cherishing the time we have left together. I can't help but wonder if everything will change when he leaves for basic training. Will the threat of the stalker follow me, or will it dissipate when he's not by my side? I try to push those thoughts away, focusing on the present moment and the love that surrounds us. I remind myself that no matter what challenges we face, we will face them together. Then the rumbling of my stomach breaks the silence and we share a laugh. “Let’s get you some food,” he says, pulling me up from the bed.
As we sit down to eat, the warm aroma of freshly brewed coffee fills the room. When he finishes, he rises to his feet and prepares to leave for Pennsylvania. I walk him out, the crisp morning air tingling against our skin. As we say goodbye, his lips meet mine in a passionate kiss. His mouth is soft yet insistent, and I can feel the desire pulsing through my body as our tongues entwine. He pulls me closer, his hands exploring every inch of my body, until they rest firmly on my hips. A moan escapes from my lips as I wrap my arms around him, unwilling to let this moment end.
He pulls away from our embrace, but not before planting a kiss on my forehead. "We'll work through this together, okay?" he reassures me, giving me one last squeeze. I nod in agreement and watch as he heads to his car. "Just drive safely and let me know when you get home," I reminded him.
"Of course, my love," he says with a smile as he gets into the driver's seat. "I love you," he calls out of the window as he backs out of the driveway.
"I love you too, Jacob," I reply, watching until his car is out of sight.
As I turn to walk back to the house, I notice a piece of paper flapping in the wind. It's attached to the mailbox next to our front door. I reach inside and grab it, finding a single-stemmed rose attached to the paper.
He will never love you the way I love you!
I immediately start scanning my yard with anxious eyes, but I don't see anyone suspicious. Just a few neighbors walking their dogs and others taking their morning jog. Could it be one of them? I quickly dismiss the thought. As I turn back toward the note and single rose, I hear a car pull up and quickly turn to see Lana's car park. I let out a sigh of relief. She smiles at me, but her expression quickly changes when she sees the look on my face.
"What happened?" she asks, hurrying to my side.
I show her the rose and note, my heart pounding in my chest.
"That's it Anya, let's go," she says, gesturing toward her car. I quietly follow her, too stunned to even process what’s happening. My mind is racing, but my body moves mechanically, driven by a mix of fear and uncertainty.
It takes a few minutes of driving in silence before I finally speak up. "Lana, I’m scared." She rests her free hand on mine.
"I know, but we’ll take care of it," she says, and that's when I notice we’re pulling into the police station.
We walk inside and are immediately greeted by the person at the front desk. "Can I help you?" the woman behind the desk says curtly, barely glancing up at us.
"Yes, my friend is being stalked," Lana answers in the same tone.
The lady behind the desk gives Lana a sour look. "Do you have proof of this?" she asks rudely.
"Would we be here if we didn’t?" Lana says, giving the woman a stern look.
"Lana, don’t be rude," I say, pulling her behind me. "I’m so sorry, ma’am, she hasn’t had her coffee yet," I politely add.
I notice the woman’s face relaxes a tiny bit, though she still wears a scowl. I take a deep breath and continue, "I have been getting weird messages and notes from someone," I tell her, showing her everything that has happened.
The woman's expression shifts as she examines the evidence. "Alright, please wait here. I'll get an officer to take your statement," her tone softened slightly. She picks up a phone and makes a quick call, and a moment later, an officer approaches us.
"I'm Detective Collins," he says, extending his hand. "Let's go to a private room and talk about this."
We follow him to a small, nondescript room with a table and a few chairs. Lana and I sit down, Collins takes a seat across from us, pulling out a notepad.
"Can you start from the beginning and tell me everything that’s been happening?" he asks, his voice calm and reassuring.
I nod, my hands trembling slightly as I begin to recount the unsettling events. "It started a few weeks ago with strange text messages. At first, they were just random, but then they became more personal. And then this morning, I found a note and a single rose on my doorstep."
Detective Collins listens intently, jotting down notes as I speak. "Do you have any idea who might be doing this?" he asks.
"Well, no, not really, I me—"
"She has an ex who used to abuse her," Lana interrupts.
Collins looks back at me then asks. "Could he be doing this?"
I think for a moment. "I mean, yes, it's a possibility, but I don't see why he would."
"Why is that?" he asks.
"Because if he wanted my attention, he had no problem just walking up to me... He wouldn't hide himself just to mess with me," I reply.
He nods his head and writes more things down in his notepad. "Miss, I'm not sure what you would like us to do," he says.
"You can help by finding out who is doing this to her!" Lana says loudly next to me, and I give her a look.
"Lana, let's take a deep breath, okay?" I say softly then turn back to Collins. "I just need to feel safe in my own home. Is there any way to increase patrols around my neighborhood? Maybe look into who could be behind these messages?"
He gives us a sympathetic smile. “Has this person threatened you?”.
“Well, no, not exactly,” I reply, my voice wavering.
“Do you know anyone else besides your ex who could be doing this?” he inquires, his eyes narrowing as he takes notes.
“No,” I answer in a lower tone, already dreading the answer.
“Then I’m sorry, but I can’t help you,” he says with a finality that hits me like a punch to the gut.
“WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU CAN’T HELP HER!!!” Lana yells, her voice echoing in the small station.
I turn toward her, placing a hand on her arm. “Lana, please!” I say, trying to defuse the situation.
She looks at me, shocked, then sits back and folds her arms, seething.
“Not to repeat what she said, but why can’t you help me?” I ask, desperation creeping into my voice.
“We can’t just start an investigation unless this person has threatened to harm you. There isn’t anything we can do,” he explains, his tone firm but apologetic as he hands me back my belongings.
Defeated, I walk out of the police station, feeling even more alone than when I first walked in there. The weight of the situation presses down on me, making it hard to breathe.
“This is bullshit, you know that, right?” Lana says as we step outside, her voice dripping with frustration.
“Lana, please, not right now,” I plead, my mind racing with thoughts of what could happen next.
She stops me, grabbing my arm and looking into my eyes with concern. “Anya, I am really worried for you.”
I sigh, feeling the tears welling up. “I know you are, and I love you. But right now, I just want to go home and sleep the day away,” I say, my voice breaking as I start walking again. “We’ll figure something out,” I reassure her, though my own conviction is shaky at best.
“How can they not do anything unless you are in harm’s way!?” she exclaims, her arms flailing in exasperation.
I shrug, the hopelessness of the situation settling in. I just want to be done with this conversation.
“That is so fucking stupid!” she shouts, her voice rising. “Let’s just wait until you are lying in your own blood before the dumbass police do anything about it!” she says sarcastically, her face flushed with anger.
“LANA! Just stop, okay!” I snap, feeling frustrated and overwhelmed.
Her face softens when she looks at me, her anger giving way to concern. “I’m sorry, this whole thing has me on edge,” she says, her voice quieter now.
“Look, I know you’re worried, but I really don’t wanna talk about it right now, okay?” I say, my voice tired and defeated.
She opens her mouth to say something but then closes it, simply nodding her head. We walk in silence, the weight of the unresolved situation hanging heavily between us.