Chapter 25

GRACE'S POV 

I stood there for a few seconds after their car disappeared.

I just stood, staring at nothing in particular 

The night was quieter now. Not the peaceful kind of quiet, but the kind that left too much room for thoughts. The kind that made everything echo louder in your head than it should.

Susan's warning about not thinking too much was quite comical to me. I scoffed lightly under my breath. Because it was already too late for that.

I turned and walked toward my building, the familiar path suddenly feeling longer than usual. My steps were slow, not because I was tired, but because I wasn’t ready to be alone with my thoughts. I wasn't ready to get swallowed up in my thoughts, at all. 

But I got there anyway. It was my place, I couldn't run from it. 

I unlocked the door and stepped inside, shutting it gently behind me. The silence wrapped around me instantly, thick and heavy.

This was home. It was safe, it didn't change, yet it felt strange. It was like my body was still recovering from a jetlag 

I kicked off my shoes and dropped my bag by the door, letting out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. My shoulders slumped slightly as I walked further in, switching on the lights.

Everything looked the same, exactly the same. But something was weird in the air. I didn't feel the same, of course I didn't.

Tonight, something had shifted enough for me to notice, even though it wasn't loud or dramatic. I guess conversations did that to you.

I walked into the kitchen, grabbing a glass and filling it with water. The simple action grounded me a little, something normal in the middle of everything that didn’t feel normal anymore.

Living in this timeline had successfully taken away my ability to remember that I had cancer. From my perspective, I didn't come back in time with it. Which would make sense because it wasn't diagnosed just yet. Did I have to go through another heartbreaking moment of finding out that I had gastric cancer? I didn't want to, I didn't have to. 

I leaned against the counter, taking slow sips. I pushed the cancer thoughts to the farther part of my mind, choosing to deal with one thought bubble at a time.

Susan. Crap. I had to text her to tell her I was inside my building and drinking water, or she'd have my neck the next time we saw. 

Speed walking, I got to my bag, and grabbed my phone. The moment I grabbed it, my phone screen lit with a text from her.

‘Are you dead? Did you get mugged?!’ 

A strangled laugh made it past my lips and I shook my head. I replied immediately.

‘Unfortunately for you, I'm alive and safe. I didn't get mugged, and I didn't die. What say you?’

Her reply came instantly. ‘Good. Now get off my phone.’

I put the phone down and went back into the kitchen, ready to embrace the many bubbles of thoughts and perhaps a small meal.

Lana.

The conversation replayed in my head, piece by piece. I was suddenly thinking about her face, her voice, her energy, the way she tried to act like she didn't care. We all knew she cared a lot about Victoria. If anyone saw her and didn't know what happened, they'd think she was going through a nasty breakup. In a way, it was though.

I exhaled softly, grabbing bread and cheese.

“She’ll call her,” I muttered to myself.

Or at least, I hoped she would, because I knew what happened when people didn’t.

I knew what silence could turn into. Something heavy settled in my chest.

I shook my head, pushing away from the counter and heading toward the living room. I sank into the couch, pulling my legs up and hugging a pillow loosely against my chest. I could eat later. 

This was what I was used to, the quiet nights, the stillness. At least, without Susan, I could melt into myself and just breathe. It was how I wasn't able to keep a lot of people around, I just did better without so much of a crowd. 

No chaos, no unpredictability. Except, it bit me right in the buttocks afterwards.

Soon enough, my muscles got tired and I got more comfortable on the couch. I don't know when I slipped into a peaceful sleep, but I accepted the darkness that came with it. 

____

The next morning, I woke up to banging on my door. Absolutely loud and unnecessary banging on my door. 

I opened my eyes, narrowing them at nothing. I stayed still, hoping the person would give up and go. When it didn't seem to stop, the sound traveling through time and space and continuously hitting my ear drums incessantly, I pushed myself up and yelled out loud.

“Who are you? And what do you want?” 

“Open the damn door, Grace!” 

I gasped at the sound of Susan's voice. She sounded pissed, very pissed. But what was she doing here so early?

I quickly walked to my door and opened it. 

“Took you long enough. What if there was a zombie apocalypse and you were the only one who could save me?” She pushed past me and went into the living room. 

She wasn't dressed in the dress she wore last night, confirming my thoughts. But she didn't look too happy, her hair was roughly pulled in a bun, and she sported a snarl that could thump Malfoy’s. 

I shut the door and followed her as she collapsed on the couch with a low growl. 

She had on a large sized shirt, and very expensive looking boxer shorts. They were clearly Daniel's. 

“What's wrong? Why are you here so early? And why do you look so angry?” I asked, sitting opposite her. 

She growled again and whispered something. 

“What?” I asked, not hearing her. 

She sat up, looked me in the eyes and said in a more firm voice. “Daniel's married.”