The sound of the second blast woke me. I sat bolt upright in my bed. I was drenched in sweat, and the ringing in my ear was so loud I wanted to scream.
I sat their gripping the sheets hard as I struggled to regain my breath and calm my heart. Finally, it started to pass, and I wiped the drenched hair off my forehead. I peeled the blankets from off of me and crawled out of bed.
It didn’t matter that it was the middle of the night, there was no going back to sleep after that. Instead, I headed to the bathroom, slipped into some workout clothes, and headed to the 24-hour gym down the street from my small townhouse.
I wasn’t exactly sure that a hard workout at three in the morning till the sun came up was the right choice. It was what we did, however. One thing you could count on every Military base across the world was a fully equipped gym. It was the best way to forget nightmares, to exhaust yourself so much you didn’t even have the energy to think.
By the time it was six in the morning I was completely and utterly spent, and finally able to unclench the fear that had shot up during the night. I got home and showered.
I knew Julie wasn’t to keen on me coming by and defiantly didn’t trust me. I didn’t see any other way of gaining that trust back if I didn’t stop by. After a lot of back and forth in my mind, I finally resolved I would go back to her place.
Worse case she kicked me out, and I spent the rest of the day at the gym burning off that frustrating. I was hoping for the best scenario, however, that I got to get to know Emma a little more.
By eight o’ clock I decided I waited long enough. Julie had been a morning person before. I figured having a kid wouldn’t result in sleeping in, so it was a good chance she was already up and ready for the day.
I stopped at my favorite mom and pop bakery and picked up some beagles and a doughnut with pink sprinkles for Emma. I was not above bribing her to like me.
I hesitated for just a second outside Julie’s apartment door. I listened in. I could hear the TV going, so I was relieved I at least wasn’t waking them up. I knocked softly.
I could hear Emma's soft voice call out, “Mommy, there is someone at the door.”
I waited quite a while and wondered if one look through the peephole and Julie had decided to keep it closed.
“Jules, I know you're in there. Come on, open up,” I called through the door.
I heard the lock slowly turn and the door opened. Instead of Julie, however, it was little Emma at the door.
“My mommy’
s in the shower,” she said peaking through the door.
I bent down to her level.
“Do you remember me? I’m Dr. Smith. I came to see if you are okay,” I said as soothingly as possible.
That being said, in the back of my mind I was also taking a mental note to scold Jules for not teaching our daughter proper safety.
“I brought you a doughnut too,” I said pulling the sprinkle treat out of the bag.
Her two brown eyes lite up to the size of dinner plates at the treat.
“Emma, what are you doing? You know better than to open the door,” Julie called as she rushed to her daughter's side in nothing more than a towel.
She opened it more full and stood in front of Emma. I let my gaze linger on her dripping wet body, her breast bursting to come out from the towel wrapped around her.
She looked back down at me with first shock and then malice.
“Don’t you have something better to do other than luring little girls with sweets.”
“If you would prefer,” I said tucking the doughnut back in the bag, “I would be more then happy to set my aim on you.”
Her eyes narrowed to a slit.
“You have nothing to lure me with,” she said as she tucked the towel tighter into place.
“I think you remember what I have. You use to rather enjoy it.”
“That was a long time ago.”