I raced down the freeway toward Atlanta, hoping I would find my mother well. I had no idea what kind of accident had occurred, but I feared that Bradley may have had something to do with it, and if that was the case, I was going to go to prison for murder. My biggest fear in life had always been losing my mother. She was the only parent in my life that cared about me, and I was afraid of being alone. I was scared of what I might find when I reached the hospital, but I tried to push it from my mind and concentrate on my driving.

    I tried to distract myself by thinking of Dane and what I should do about that situation, but it only made me think of my mother more as she would know just what to say to help me in my decision making. I pushed the gas pedal down more as my worry grew over my mother. I needed to get there and get there fast. I cursed Bradley’s name as I took the exit that would get me closer to Atlanta. I knew if anything happened to my mother, Bradley would pay for it because I was sure he was the reason this was happening. I had never known him to be this kind of vengeful person, but I could be too, and if he wanted to play, I was game.

    As I came off the exit, the low fuel light lit up, so I pulled into the nearest gas station to fill up. I only had a few hours left on my trip, and I was grateful to be getting closer. I was beginning to regret not letting Dane come with me. I was lonely and getting tired. I would need someone to keep me awake, but I had no one. I wouldn’t be able to call and talk to anyone because I had no way to make my calling hands free, and I wasn’t about to risk getting a ticket.

    As walked to the cash register to pay for my gas and a drink, the lady behind the counter leaned in and whispered in my ear.

    “Miss, you have someone following you in a black sedan. I watched him follow you into the parking lot, and he’s been following you from a distance ever since you came inside. I’ve alerted the police for you,” she said as she gave me my change.

    “Thank you very much, ma’am,” I said as I looked over my shoulder. “I appreciate it very much.” I smiled at her as I walked out the door, looking behind me every step.

    I hurried to my car and locked the doors as I got in. I was really wishing I had let Dane come with me. I wouldn’t be terrified if he were with me. I got back on the interstate and headed toward the hospital. I knew I had to get there quick and there was no time for anymore stops. I hoped she would be okay when I got there, and my thoughts kept going to a place they didn’t need to go.

    As I took the exit that would take me straight to the hospital, I noticed the black sedan behind me. I thought maybe it was just a coincidence, but it followed me down every street, even into the parking garage. I sat in my car, terrified to get out as I looked to see if there was a security guard on duty. When I didn’t see one, I made the decision to go ahead and go into the hospital by myself. I pulled my keys from the ignition and tucked them in my hand with the keys sticking out between my fingers. My heart was pounding, and my breathing was slightly fast. I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my body as the fear of the unknown crept up on me. I walked briskly toward the elevator, keeping a tight grip on my keys as I went. As I neared the elevator, a figure dressed in black jumped out from behind a dark green Mustang and blocked my access to the elevator.

    “What do you want with me?” I asked, panic beginning to rise like bile in my throat.

    “Lauren, Lauren. Tsk, tsk. You should know me enough by now to know what it is that I want. I want what I’ve always wanted, and that’s you, sweetheart.” The figure said as he stepped toward me.

    “Bradley? What the hell are you thinking? Why can’t you just move on and leave me alone? You didn’t want what we had anyway, or you never would have done what you did to me in the first place. Please excuse me; I need to get to the elevator,” I spat, making sure my words were soaked in venom.

    “My, my, Lauren, aren’t we bitter and angry?” he said, his words dripping with sarcasm.

    He made me so angry, I wanted to slug him right then and there, but knew if I did, he would just use that to play the victim card like he had when I left and he had to leave the apartment. I tried to step around him and get to the elevator, but he blocked my path.

    “Please let me pass, Bradley. My mother is in the hospital, and I need to see how she is. Would you happen to know anything about what happened to get her in here?” I snarled at him as he grinned and shook his head.

    “Oh, dear Lauren, do you really think that I’d tell you if I had anything to do with something happening to your mother? If I had done something so heinous, you wouldn’t hear anything about it from me. I am appalled that you would insinuate that I could be capable of doing such a thing to such a sweet lady.” He sneered and took another step toward me.

    I was ready for him and held my keys firmly in my hand as I watched him closely. I knew I only had one shot to save myself, and if I missed, I was going to be in deep trouble.

    “Bullshit, Bradley. You never cared about my mother; hell, you never cared about me either. You proved that to me when you did what you did to me. Now, let me pass, or you’re going to regret it,” I said as I readied myself, expecting an advance from him.

    He surprised me though and stepped aside, letting me get to the elevator. I stepped past him warily and reached for the button on the elevator. As I reached out, Bradley grabbed my arm and pulled me back against him. Without hesitation, I stabbed my key into his thigh, breaking away from him as he screamed in agony. I lunged for the elevator and pressed the button praying it would open before he was able to get up.

    I jumped into the elevator and sighed with relief as the doors closed on him. I waited until the doors opened and I ran straight to the reception area.

    “Please help me! There is a man in the parking garage that is after me; can you please alert security? Also, my mother is a patient here, her name is Beth Andrews.” I frantically tried to catch my breath as the receptionist looked her up and another called security.

    When the lady told me where to find my mother, I sprinted for the elevator down the hall. I got to her floor and found her room and gently knocked on the door. I heard her soft voice from the other side and walked in. I was horrified by what I saw when I got inside. She had IVs in both of her arms, and she was using oxygen to breathe. Her face was battered and bruised, and it appeared one of her arms was in a cast.

    I walked over and gently sat on the edge of her bed and patted her free hand. She turned to look at me and smiled when she saw my face.

    “Oh, Lauren, I’m sorry to make you have to drive all this way, I should have been more careful. I knew there was a stop sign there, I just didn’t see it this time,” she said, tears starting to fall from her eyes.

    “Mom, it is okay, I don’t mind driving to see you, and you should know that. Was Dylan with you? Is he okay?” I asked as she maneuvered herself to a better position.

“Your brother is fine. I had already dropped off at the facility and was on my way home,” she said, fiddling with the blanket that covered her up.

My brother had been placed in a facility for people with disabilities a few years ago when he had become too much for my mom to handle. I had offered to help her with him, but she didn’t want me to miss out on life and none of my other siblings wanted the responsibility. I decided to tell her what I had been thinking on the drive here.

“I’ve been thinking about moving back to the mainland anyway, so it would be better for you if I were closer,” I said as she straightened herself up in the bed.

    She looked at me with fury in her bright blue eyes and vehemently shook her head. I knew she would protest, but I also knew that she needed me now that her safety was in jeopardy and I wasn’t about to leave her alone.

    “Don’t you dare give up that house on the island! You love that place, and that place seems to agree with you. You look so much happier now than you did when you lived here with Bradley.” She started to pout, and I grinned at her.

    “Oh, Mom, the only reason it didn’t suit me before is because I was living with Bradley. I thought I loved him, but now I’m not so sure I ever did. I know he didn’t love me; all he ever did was mooch off me and used me for a place to live. Since I left, he’s been telling all our mutual friends that I left him high and dry with no place to go, and that is certainly not the truth. I think it would be good if I lived here without him,” I replied as she shook her head.

    “Listen to me, Lauren: that place is good for you, and I don’t want you leaving it just because I got a little banged up! Am I understood, young lady?” She gave me the mom look, and I knew not to argue.

    “Yes, ma’am,” I relented as the nurse came in to check her vitals.

    I knew she was right, but I also knew if I stayed and made the wrong decision concerning Dane, it would haunt me for the rest of my life no matter where I went. I didn’t know what to do and now wasn’t the right time to ask Mom about it. I just needed a little more time, but how much time did he have left?