Literally Die in His Tenderness

Chapter 4

At that moment, it felt sweet, like a secret understanding between us, the kind only two people deeply familiar with each other could share. It was the feeling of being loved, of being understood. But now? Now it was hard to believe. Terrifying, even. The sensation of being trapped, unable to escape, was suffocating.

"Miss Lutz, why are you mumbling to yourself?" Gordon's voice cut through my thoughts just as I heard a knock at the door.

"Aubrey, is that you?" Troy's voice was unmistakable.

I collapsed onto the couch, my body tense, hands shaking as I passed Gordon my phone. He immediately checked the surveillance footage. "Did you meet a creep? Is he following you?" he asked, concern lacing his voice.

I couldn't even respond. The images on the screen were enough to make my heart race, Troy walking toward my door. The thought of it alone made me freeze up.

Without a word, Gordon moved toward the door. Panic hit me, and I grabbed his arm, shaking my head wildly. "Don't, don't open it," I pleaded.

Gordon Craig, the new computer teacher at school, happened to share an office with me. We hadn't talked much, but it turned out he lived right downstairs from me. In that moment, though, he was my only lifeline.

I had no idea what Troy was planning. Was there something more hidden in those flowers? Was there a weapon or drugs involved? I was beyond scared.

Gordon, seeing how badly I was trembling, knelt beside me and gently pried my hand open. "Hey, it's okay. Just breathe. Deep breaths, alright?" he said softly.

But then I noticed I had dug my nails into his arm, breaking the skin. I gasped. "I'm so sorry," I whispered, horrified by my own actions.

Before I could say anything else, my phone buzzed, and I saw Troy's name flash on the screen. My stomach dropped. Even though I'd silenced the phone, I wanted to throw it across the room. But I couldn't risk making a sound.

I curled up in the corner, my head buried in my hands, trying to fight the overwhelming panic.

I didn't know how long it had been when I heard Gordon's voice again. "Don't worry, he's gone. Do you want me to call the police?"

That's when something clicked in my mind. I handed him my phone and asked, "Mr. Craig, can you check if there's any tracking app installed on my phone?"

Half an hour later, Gordon confirmed there was nothing. No tracking software, no strange apps. I checked myself, clothes, hairpins, anything that could be out of place, but everything was normal.

But that just left me more confused. Could love really make someone act like this? But if Troy truly loved me, why would he try to hurt me just to be with Terra?

I finally decided to tell Gordon everything.

"He's my ex. He broke up with me, but now he's back, trying to get back together. He's been too much, too pushy. I've been avoiding him," I said, voice trembling. "I've seen too many stories online where things go wrong. I guess that's why I'm so scared. Him showing up in the middle of the night... it just freaks me out."

Gordon didn't ask a lot of questions. He just nodded, his expression soft. "If you're dealing with something like this, it's better not to meet alone. It's smart to be cautious. You did the right thing. He doesn't seem stable."

"I think we should call the police, though. They'll at least have it on record," he suggested.

I shook my head. "There's no point. He hasn't hurt me yet, other than showing up uninvited. It's not enough to call them."

An hour later, Gordon walked me back to my place. I packed a bag, too shaken to stay there. I wasn't ready to go to a hotel by myself, so Gordon offered to let me stay at his place. I slept in his room, and he took the couch.

I didn't call the cops because there was nothing solid to report. Troy hadn't actually done anything yet, other than showing up at my door. I couldn't prove anything, so my best option was to keep my distance from him.

Thank goodness it was summer vacation at school. I spotted a travel guide pamphlet on Gordon's nightstand, and without thinking, I casually said, "Maybe I should take a trip. A change of scenery might help."

Gordon didn't reply immediately, but I could feel his concern, his understanding, too, as he simply nodded, letting me have my moment of escape.