An Unexpected Run-In

I watched her mouth move, but the words fell on deaf ears. I was busy trying to stop the growing sense of dread that was rising and threatening to sweep me away like a bug caught in a tsunami. I have to get out of here! "I have to go, I can't…" Stumbling to my feet, I yanked the door open ignoring Dr. Bishop' calls and dashed toward the front door intent on breathing fresh air.

I was caught in a surreal state. Everything around me was muted and moving in slow motion. The air seemed to hum and the feeling that someone was watching me was back. My mind registered how inhumanely fast I was moving and it increased my already out of control panic.

I was almost at the door when I bumped into a hard body and lost my footing. Big, warm, hands grabbed my waist, pulled me into a firm chest and held me there. Spicy tangerine invaded my senses and all my panic evaporated, instantly.

Home. That was the only thought swirling in my head as I nestled deeper into those arms. I knew this scent. In fact, I was intimately familiar with it and, worse, I still wanted be in his arms. Cursing at my weakness, I prayed that I was wrong but when I glanced up to say 'thank you' those familiar, cat-orange, eyes stared down into mine.

Detective Josiah Walker of the Boston Police Department: Missing Persons Unit was standing before me. From the look of regret and longing in his eyes, this was not an accidental meeting.

I didn't care why he was here. I would never trust him or anything he had to say…ever again.

He was the last person I wanted to see! Especially right after the news I had just received but I felt so at peace in his embrace. I had to force myself to wrench away and slide by him as quickly as I could; without saying a word.