Page 9 of Vexed
“Are you okay?” Frowning, she takes a seat on the edge of my bed. “You were making some weird ass noises in your sleep.”
Sleep? I was… dreaming? Again? This is like the fourth time I had a similar dream where a faceless man fucks me. Shaking my head, I pick up my phone from the bedside table and as I unlock it, my eyes go wide. 5 missed calls from my mother.
“Shit.” Quickly I leap out of bed and run to the bathroom. Why are my panties wet? Not even a little—they're soaked. Gulping hard and shaking the eerie feeling, I hastily pull my clothes off. I take a quick shower before brushing my teeth and running a brush through my dark hair before tying it up in a high ponytail.
“Please, don’t forget me,” Hannah says from behind me as I pack the last of my stuff. Chuckling, I turn to face her and she’s giving me those puppy eyes.
“I’m coming back in a few weeks, idiot.” Shaking my head, I grab my suitcase and give her a tight hug before making my way to my car. I should’ve left two hours ago, but thanks to the faceless man haunting my dreams, I overslept.
I made a promise to my mother the day I left home to always come back on the anniversary of my father’s death. And since I left home, I’ve faithfully honored that commitment, but this year, an unsettling feeling gnaws at my gut.
Ignoring the eerie sensation, I catch sight of my childhood home in the distance, but as I drive past the old playground where I used to play, a frigid shiver races down my spine, causing goosebumps to erupt across my skin.
Pulling into the driveway, I spot my mother eagerly waiting for me at the front door. Though her smile is genuine, the exhaustion etched on her face is impossible to miss.
“I’m so glad you could make it, honey,” she exclaims, enveloping me in a warm embrace and planting a tender kiss on my cheek.
“Always, Mom,” I reply, hugging her back even tighter. As we enter the house, I can’t help but notice that nothing has changed since the last time I was here. During these trips, I usually help my mother in decluttering and discarding unwanted items, urging her to do so more frequently.
However, she clings onto my father’s belongings, leaving them boxed up in the corner of my old bedroom, next to the window.
“Mom, you need to start letting go of Dad’s things, perhaps donate them,” I gently suggest, gesturing towards the stacked boxes.
Irritation flashes across her face as she retorts, “That’s not your decision to make, Lily.” Her sudden outburst startles me, causing me to flinch. I snap my mouth shut, deciding to table the discussion, for now, I refuse to let her spiral further into grief.
I loved and miss my father dearly, but this self-imposed suffering must end. I cannot bear to lose another parent.
I can’t.
After unpacking my bag, I decided to walk down to the playground. Since stopping here, it felt like something was pulling me towards it. Every year I’ve been here, it was nothing special, and I never went to the playground again, but this time feels different.
Like some unknown force is pulling at me, begging me to take that leap.
As I make my way out the door, I shout out to my mother, “I’m going for a walk, Mom.” The words echo through the hallway.
The warm rays of the sun embrace me as I step outside, casting a golden glow on everything around me. The scent of blooming flowers fills the air, mingling with the crisp freshness of the morning.
Slowly, I walk towards the abandoned playground, my footsteps creating a soft crunching sound on the gravel beneath me. Inhaling deeply, I taste the clean, invigorating air, filling my lungs with its purity.
Approaching the rusted gates of the playground, my eyes are drawn to the faded paint and chipped wood, remnants of happier times. Memories flood my mind, each one accompanied by a surge of emotion.
I recall the joy of swinging high into the sky, my laughter echoing through the air, as I watched the vibrant colors of the sunset dance across the horizon.
This was my favorite place in the entire world growing up. It’s where I could be myself without others judging or making funof me. I could just have fun, even if I was by myself. And then another memory slips through.
Him.
The man with the silver eyes.Vex.
I remember him, but I always thought he was just a figure of my imagination. No one has ever seen him around here besides me. My mother claimed I made him up to not feel so alone, but then again, what normal eight-year-old girl would make up a grown man to be her friend for years?
Blowing out a breath I didn’t know I was holding, I slide into the seat of the familiar swing, gradually swinging back and forth. Closing my eyes, I inhale deeply, just relaxing with the surrounding silence. The only thing audible is the soft chirping of birds that rustle in the trees.
This is exactly why I always came here as a kid. This place made me feel at peace. It made me feel like being alone wasn’t always such a bad thing.
But the peacefulness is shattered as a crow lands gracefully at my feet, startling me. My heart races within my chest as I lock eyes with the creature, its unwavering gaze piercing through me. A sense of calm washes over me, urging me to reach out and touch it.
Tentatively, I extend my hand, the anticipation tingling in my fingertips. But in an instant, the crow takes flight, its wings beating against the air, leaving me with a chilling shiver that runs down my spine. It was the same feeling I had when passing by earlier. I abruptly get up and decide to head home.
