Ch. 12 "The Diner Encounter"

Gracie P.O.V.

 

I felt the tears falling down my cheek when I felt it on my finger. But I was angry because of how he treated me for all these years, like I was nothing. I am crying for the pain he causes me!

 

And I am crying for the future he is going to do to me. Because I know he will never change.

That's when I knew what I had to do. That is to get away and get away from the pain he is causing me.

"Are you happy now? "He looked down at me like I was crazy for asking him that.

He didn't say anything to me. I crossed my arms over my chest. But I didn't back down. I am angry and turned on, and I have no idea what I am doing right now. Just him standing here in the dark with me. If I don't leave right now, I'll be in trouble. I know I will not stop him if he grabs me and takes me.

 

"Well, you got what you wanted?" I asked him in a broken voice because I could barely talk with the pain in my chest that I was feeling from his actions, and I think I'm ashamed

So, let me leave," I told him with so much demand in my voice, but I knew my voice was shaking. So, when he was done, I knew he was. I took all I could and pushed him off me when I saw him stumble back.

He almost saw my panic, but he smirked and stepped back. When he was worried about falling, he paid attention.

 

That's when I shot away. I wasn't going to let him treat me like a slut and play with toys. That's when I took my chance, and I started running. I didn't look back or stop running. I just kept running until I was away from him, and I knew he wasn't behind me anymore. That's when I took my chance, and I started running. I didn't look back or stop running. I just kept running until I was away from him, and I knew he wasn't behind me anymore.

 

Once I was away, I started walking down the street. I knew I should never have pushed him and backtalked to my bully, the guy who hated me. But I couldn't help it. He upset me every time, but I'd always shut my mouth and take it. But something inside me told me Don't let him treat me like that. He doesn't own you. So, I was thinking about what happened at my first meeting with new people, and now I am walking with my mind full of worry because I angered my monster.

 

A few minutes later...

 

I started to shrivel as the day heated up. It began to get dark in the middle of August in the United States.

By the way, it shouldn't be very cold for much longer. It's August, for God's sake. So, I pulled my shirt like it was a warm blanket around my body, but really, it's just a blouse. I felt the wind get chillier, and my body started to shiver. Now, I want to escape the cold and distance myself from him to avoid being in this situation again. So, I wasn't thinking where I was going until I looked ahead of me. I saw a big sign that read "The Lighthouse Diner."

Ahh, that looks like a nice place to grab a hot chocolate and a donut, warm up, and then head to my dorm room to meet up with friends for a movie night and pizza. So, I stopped in here and checked it out.

 

So, I started walking closer until I was at the door, grabbed the door handle, pulled it open, and walked in.

 

Wow, it's such a warm and loving environment, and it was cozy. The picture on the wall featured blue and yellow little sailboats, with lighthouses scattered everywhere. I was looking around. I felt the love of this place.

 

I could feel the love someone put into this place. I had a deep smile on my face, and I kept walking closer into the diner. I saw a couple with their toddler, and I giggled because this little girl had spaghetti sauce all over her face, shirt, and high chair. What made me laugh was her parents trying to clean her up; she kept smiling and eating, just loving the attitude they gave her. She is so adorable with her red face and bright blue eyes, laughing and giggling at her mom and dad.

 

I sighed, dreaming that one day it would be Hayes and me with our child in a cozy diner, on a family outing, enjoying ourselves with our bundle of joy, as I gazed at them. I saw the little girl turn her little head, turn to me, stare at me, and then point at me.

 

"Mommy! Daddy, why does it look like a Tinkerbell?" she said out loud in front of her parents, and I felt my cheeks turn red. I started walking away quickly, and I didn't want the parents to yell at me for staring over at their daughter, and them like I am a crazy nutjob, so that when I heard her mother say, smiling.

 

"Autumn Rose Waters, that's true, but what have we said about speaking out like that?" I heard her mother say.

She sighed and spoke.

Huff, then I heard her start speaking to her mom again.

"That we use an inside voice and are not supposed to yell inside at people, even if they look like Tinkerbell!" she said in her sweet little voice. Ahh, she is so adorable, but not just that, but a smart little one.

 

I smiled.

 

That's when I got a good look at her. She is so small, like I was when I was young, and there is something about this couple and their daughter that I like. It's like we connected somehow.

I know she says I look like Tinkerbell because of my appearance.

 

She doesn't look any bigger than two, like Cindy Lou Who from The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, whom she reminds me of. That's when I saw her dad sitting there, laughing at what his daughter said when her mother asked her about manners, but she wasn't having it.

Oh, I got a feeling she is going to be a little spitfire when she grows up as a teenager.

But when I saw her mom sigh and shake her head with a smile, and her father praised his little girl with a laugh and a hug.

I saw the biggest smile on that adorable face, a testament to the love her parents gave her.

 

I was thinking about a day when I'll be that person, and then he popped into my head when I was thinking about having a kid, sitting in the diner, and going out with my husband and kids. I was still lost in thought, staring over at this family as they smiled, and I saw her return to her spaghetti. She forgot all about what happened and me.

 

Ahh, well. I am here for a reason, which is why I started walking up to the counter.

I sat down at the table, grabbed a menu, and looked down when I heard a friendly and kind female voice.

"Hi, welcome to The Lighthouse Diner," she said with a warm smile. When I looked up, it was the girl's mother standing behind the counter, smiling. Wow, she looks young. When I saw her sitting with her daughter and her daughter's dad, I didn't get a good look at her. But now I could see she was young, maybe around my age or older.

 

"I am sorry about my daughter; she doesn't mean to speak out like that. She takes after her father," she tells me.

I smile and nod at her, and she starts to laugh a little.

Oh, I like her. I feel comfortable around her. So, I replied.

 

"Oh, it's okay, and she is adorable by the way," I tell her with a grin.

She smiled, and I saw her smile drop.

 

"Yeah, thank you; she is my baby girl." I heard her say with sadness in her words.

I didn't want to be that person who kept asking, so I ignored it, and she went back to business.

 

"So, welcome, and what can I get for you?" She asked me, and that was when I saw a notepad in her hand and a pencil in the other.

I looked once again at the menu.

 

"I'd like a hot chocolate with cinnamon whipped cream and a slice of your pumpkin cheesecake pie, please."

That's when I set the menu down on the counter, and I saw her write my order and set it down by me.

She smiled at me, and she got my drink and pie.

 

"Enjoy. If you need anything, ask me, okay." She spoke.

"I will, thank you," I told her, and she nodded and walked back over to her family.

I started digging in because, one, I'm hungry and I didn't eat breakfast, and two, well, I don't have but number one: I am hungry. I took a big bite, a nd oh my God, it's so sweet and creamy. I want more. So, before I leave, I'll take one to go home.

 

I picked up my cup, and I started blowing on it. It was still a little hot. But I blew on it and took a sip of the cup.

Mmm, wow, that is delicious, and I am coming back just for that too. I thought.

I was about to take another bite when I heard the door ring. I didn't know who it was because my hair was standing straight up on my arms when I heard a voice behind me.

I gasped when I turned around, and I saw him…