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After a beat, I speak.

"Yeah," I admit. "I get scared."

Tyler blinks, like he did not expect me to say that.

"I'm scared of the dark sometimes," I tell him honestly. "I'm scared of getting into a bad car accident. And tonight, I was scared when your mom screamed."

Tyler shifts under the blankets, his fingers twisting in the fabric.

"But you're not scared now?" he asks.

I glance back down at him, at the way he is trying so hard to be brave.

I shake my head.

"No, not right now," I say.

"Why not?"

"Because you're safe," I tell him."Because your mom is safe."

He nods slowly, the tightness in his small frame easing just a little.

His eyelids start to droop, heavy with exhaustion now that the worst of the fear is fading.

I reach out and ruffle his hair gently.

"I'm right down the hall," I promise. "You call me if you need anything, okay?"

"'Kay," he mumbles, already half-asleep.

I sit there a few more seconds, watching his chest rise and fall, until I am sure he is really out.

When I finally get up and leave the room, I find Melissa leaning against the wall in the hallway, arms crossed over her chest, watching me with an unreadable expression.

Without thinking, I reach out and tuck another loose piece of hair behind her ear.

Yeah, I am in trouble.

And for the first time in a long time, I don't want to run from it.

"I'm sorry you went through this. I wish I would've caught the bastard." I drop my hands back down to my side flexing my fingers over and over trying to release some of this tension.

"It's okay, I'm sure he'll stay away now." She speaks as if she already knows. Like she has some sort of direct line to the intruders thoughts. I'd asked her before but she never admitted that something was wrong. After what we all went through tonight, there's no way she can deny it.

"Do you know who it was?" I ask, doing my best to keep her gaze.

She shuffles from foot to foot, already uncomfortable.

"Probably just a random-"

I cut her off before she continues with the lie. "Stop it Melissa. Don't you realize what happened here tonight. What could've happened last night when whoever it was broke in here. You're being targeted. This isn't some random person. Tell me what you know so I can help you."

She stares at me for a moment, so I add, "Please. Trust me, Melissa, please."

The words seem to be exactly what she was waiting for because she sighs deep before she slowly walks over to the couch to sit down. I follow behind her and take a seat next to her.

"I don't know exactly who it is but I'm pretty sure I know who sent them."

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