Page 72 of Fake Love

I pass so many people that look like they have been crying. There are some that are holding the people that they are with tightly as if they don’t want to let them go.

The cop said that the shooting was a drive by, but that still doesn’t negate the fact that these people experienced real panic. They probably didn’t know what was going on and they just ran for their lives.

I move through people as carefully as I can, looking all over the place trying to catch even a small glimpse of her.

Anything. I will take anything at this point.

A little boy bumps into me as he walks by with his mom and when I abruptly turn to look at him, that’s when I catch a glimpse of blonde hair.

Turning fully in that direction, I notice that the blonde haired person is wearing a black tank just like Jen was wearing when I called her earlier.

That’s her.

She’s with two other women and they are all getting checked out by paramedics.

I catch sight of Ben and Aaron and nod to them in her direction before running to her.

With her back to me, she doesn’t see me so as I close the distance between us, I yell out her name.

“Jennifer!”

She doesn’t hear when I call out her name the first time, or even the second time, but its the third time that has her turning around.

It’s the third time that I yell out her name that has me seeing her beautiful brown eyes bloodshot and her face red from all the crying that she has been doing.

She sees me and it takes her a second to comprehend that it’s me, before she abandons the people that she is with and runs to me.

My arms open up for her and the second that I have her in my arms, all the hopelessness, the anxiety and the fear I was feeling earlier is gone.

Every single urge that was moving through my body disappears when my arms wrap around her body and the scent of her hair is in my nose.

A sob releases from her and I bring her body closer to mine.

“You’re okay. You’re okay.” I tell her repeatedly but I don’t know if it's for her or for me.

“How did you know?” She says into my neck, not pulling away from me.

“Aaron’s wife told him there was a shooting and where. We drove over her as fast as we could. You wouldn’t answer your phone.” My voice shakes the whole time I speak.

I’m trying really hard to keep my emotions in check but I’m failing.

“I dropped my phone. I was so scared to go back for it.” She lets out another sob, tightening the hold she has on me a bit more.

“I know. You’re safe now. I got you, okay? I will always have you.” I tell her.

And I will.

No matter where me and Jen end up at the end of this season, I will be there for her. No matter what.

I will be there.

I will hold her when she needs me most, because I know what it feels like to think that I've lost her.

And if I don’t hold on to her tightly, the demons will take over and there will be no light in sight.

Losing her, like losing my mother, will be the end of me.

Completely.

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