AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Holding his breath, Sam waited as strong knocks broke the apparent stillness.
It took another round for Ellie to move, her footsteps almost noiseless. He imagined her looking through the peephole and frowning, opening the door reluctantly. It was impossible to discern the discussion, but the tone revealed the possible content. Disbelief, denial, and finally, acceptance.
This confirmed that Madge Leipzig was indeed more of a friend than a boss to Ellie, but his little trick couldn’t be used too many times.
At least, for the time being, his neighbor had food, and when he finally heard pots and pans followed by the faint smell of food, Sam relaxed and took a handful of cookies as a reward.
Chapter Four
Ellie couldn’t rememberthe last time she’d felt that full. She’d obviously eaten too much, but that lasagna had called her name the moment she’d unboxed it.
Madge knew pasta was her favorite and she was surprised by this unexpected gift. She had to thank her for her thoughtfulness. The last few weeks had been hard, and basics like getting groceries, or eating for that matter, often escaped her mind. Ellie knew it wasn’t wise to abuse her body that way, but her stomach had been in constant knots. Only the sight and smell of food reawakened her hunger, making it a priority.
Now with the food put away and flopped on the couch in a food coma, Ellie wanted to doze off, but she’d slept too much already. It was as if her body had become addicted to sleep, and her bed was the only place where she could find oblivion and precious peace. That option wasn’t available for the time being, so she had to remain awake with her thoughts.
Light still streamed through the window. Normal people lived their lives at that exact moment, breathing, loving, laughing, crying, working. At that thought, Ellie felt even more empty and tired.
She wanted that agonizing void to disappear forever, but apart from the unthinkable, no other ideas came to mind. Was she more fragile than other people? Maybe it was inevitable due to her lack of parents, and being raised in the cold-hearted and bleak system of foster homes.
How could one have a heart when she’d never been loved?
Ellie felt like she was a house with a weak foundation, cracking and creaking as fissures spread all over its surface. It was only a question of time before it all crumbled down.
Pushing herself up, she stood to look out the window. Down on the street, people milled around, going about their lives. When was the last time she’d acted like a normal human being and lived?
Her eyes searched for her phone. Apart from her colleagues at work or Madge, the strange caller had been her only link to the real world. Sam.
Sam had shown real concern, even if he knew nothing about her. Even if she’d been the one to shut him out, there was a connection, and for a brief instant, she wanted it to continue. A connection that stirred her from her melancholy, maybe there was something there. She had to reach out. Too bad she didn’t know Sam’s number. Would he call again?
Ellie wanted that and feared it too. She remembered how he’d started asking questions, poking into wounds that hadn’t had time to heal, that may never be healed.
Nonetheless, an idea wiggled its way into her mind. What if she just reached out?
Madge talked about seeing a professional, a psychologist or something in the same vein, but Ellie wasn’t ready for that though as she’d suffered through too many sessions in her youth.
Her eyes back on the scene of urban life, Ellie had no idea where to start until a loud bang followed by a muffled curse came from the other side of the wall. Her new, unknown neighbor.
Ellie knew too well what it felt like to be alone in Chicago. When she’d turned eighteen, her greatest joy and biggest fear had been moving there alone. Since then, she’d realized there was a big difference between being alone and being lonely.
Solitary by nature, she hadn’t suffered from loneliness, dedicating her life to helping others instead, finding fulfillment in her work. Until even that turned against her.
Could her purpose have changed after that terrible sorrow? Could her own helplessness force her to change course?
A faint vibration started deep in her belly, generating enough energy to pull her from the window and into the kitchen. From Madge’s gift box, she remembered a small box of assorted chocolates. Would it be a neighborly thing to do?
At the last minute she changed out of her sweatpants and donned her last clean pair of jeans at least, and a blue hoodie that was free of stains. Her black hair was a wild mess, but it was a continuous fight she wouldn’t try to win now, and after all, her appearance didn’t matter.
Shoulders back, with a smile she hoped wasn’t too creepy, Ellie hopped in a pair of old sneakers to go into the hall.
It was in front of her neighbor’s door just after knocking twice, that she felt like a complete fool. What was she doing? On the verge of panic, Ellie couldn’t do a thing as the door swung open.
The man looked as bewildered as she was, which she found funny. Did she have that same look on her face when someone approached her?
Tall, dark, with amazing pale eyes like silver and the hint of a beard over golden skin, and heart-stopping handsome, Ellie searched for something smart and kind to say when the man blinked and looked over her shoulder, before forcefully dragging her inside his apartment.
Surprise overtook fear when she found herself crouching behind the sofa with the man. Stunned, she was about to open her mouth, her mind full of questions, when she heard popping sounds followed by a shattering window.
“Stay down.” Her neighbor’s stern order caught her attention, but not as much as the gun he had in his hand.
