CHAPTER 6-11

Chapter 6

Maggie was tired of the new girl always finding a way to leave early. Although she didn’t mind closing and cleaning up, she was not feeling well lately and could really use an evening to relax. Before the new girl could bail, Maggie went to John and told him she was feeling under the weather. John knew she really must need the evening off. Maggie was punctual, hardworking, and responsible.

“John? Is it OK if I leave early today? I’m really not feeling well…”

“Sure,” he answered with concern, “are you okay? Do you need a ride home?”

“Oh no, thank you… I just need to go home and rest. Thank you...”

“Well then, go, I’m sure Tabby can close by herself.” Tabby was the new girl’s name.

As much as Maggie wanted to disagree, she didn’t want to tell John the new girl never closed. She didn’t want to be a snitch and cause any friction. The new girl would leave as soon as John was gone. She had done this from day one. Maggie just never said anything.

“Thanks John.”

Maggie took her belongings and hurried past Tabby. Once at the door, she quietly said good night and turned and walked in the direction of the bus stop. As she walked by several storefronts, she felt an uneasy feeling.

She wanted to go back to the park. But she didn’t know why. It had been three years since it happened and all of a sudden, this interest surfaced. She was better now. She had a job, an apartment, a few good friends, and her mother. Why this sudden interest?

The bus got to the corner and Maggie got on. This time, she purposely got off at the park. She walked in and went straight to the tree. It seemed bigger than she remembered it. She looked around. Not much had changed.

In the light, the area looked innocent enough. As she walked to the lamppost, kicking cans with her feet, she noticed two young kids smoking weed and quickly turned around.

This is not a good idea. I have no reason to be here…Maggie folded her arms close to her chest and walked hurriedly to the entrance of the park. She crossed the street and waited for the bus.

Chapter 7

The jogger was on her daily late night run. She ran with deliberation but especially today. She had had one of those days at work when she just couldn’t wait to leave. Running helped her put things into perspective. And boy did she need to.

As she ran, she went over the situation at work. For too long she had watched what she said, even kept her mouth shut. But not today, she couldn’t stand by and watch any longer. I did the right thing, she thought.

She was almost at the end of her usual path but she still felt somewhat anxious. I’m not ready to go home. With this thought, she veered toward the eastern side of the park. This was new territory for her and she adjusted her stride.

She immediately noticed that this area was not as nice as the rest of the park. Trash was everywhere and she couldn’t keep a smooth stride. She started to look for a way out. She couldn’t see anything to her left and to her right was a never-ending row of bushes. The lighting was so bad she began to slow down. As she slowly jogged, she saw a large tree to her left and started to head toward it. That’s when she heard it.

She couldn’t quite make out the sound but it reminded her of a wounded animal. She stopped and focused on the sound. It was coming from where the lamppost was, about 20 feet away. She walked carefully, peering to her right and to her left. Then she saw her.

Chapter 8

Doctor Toledo‘s office was a typical doctor’s office with its generic metal chairs and magazine racks. As patients walked in, they were greeted by an opening in the wall housing a not to cheery receptionist looking down at a stack of papers. Without looking up, the receptionist mouthed, “sign your name,” and pointed at the clipboard prominently displayed on the ledge of the wall opening.

Maggie knew the drill, walked directly to the clipboard, and signed her name and arrival time. Without a comment, she turned and looked for an empty chair. She found one at the far end of the office, right next to a magazine rack. She sat quietly and motionless and waited to be called.

After about an hour Maggie looked at her watch. Her appointment was for 9:00 and it was now 10:05. Without any sign of exasperation, Maggie walked up to the hole in the wall and looked at her name. There was no one left before her. All the names had been crossed out, so she quietly made her way back to the chair at the far end of the office.

Within minutes her name was called and the door next to the hole in the wall opened up to show a minute looking assistant who smiled as she led her into the examination room. She gave Maggie a gown and told her to remove her earrings. She would be back in a few minutes.

Maggie obeyed and changed into the blue paper gown. She removed her earrings and placed them in the pockets of her skirt. She sat on the generic looking chair and waited for the assistant. She looked at the CT machine and wondered to herself if this thing would always be a part of her life. For three years, she had had to sit through this test every three months; then every six. Doctor Toledo said everything was normal and she would probably not need to come in as often. But here she was again, wearing this blue robe made of paper. There was a knock on the door and then the assistant walked in ready to begin the test.

She told Maggie to lie down on the table. Maggie followed her instructions and sat then stretched her body on the cold, metal surface. The assistant asked, “Are you pregnant?” Maggie chuckled, “No.”

The assistant left the exam room and entered the computer monitoring room to begin the exam. It took about 10 minutes and it was done.

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Doctor Toledo was a distinguished looking man. He also had a commanding presence standing at 6 feet 3 inches tall. He had movie star looks and Maggie fell for the spell of his eyes. She watched his every movement and hung on his every word.

“Well Maggie, I think I know from where the headaches are coming. The swelling is back. Beside the headaches, have you noticed anything else bothering you?”

Maggie recounted her visit to the park and not realizing how she got there. She also told him she was really enjoying some foods, a lot. Nothing important. Oh, and there was the change in her vision. She thought the headaches were causing it.

Doctor Toledo looked gravely at Maggie and chastised her for not coming sooner. Maggie put her head down and listened. “I want to run some more tests. Next we’ll do an MRI to check on the swelling. I don’t want to but, maybe we’ll do an intracranial pressure probe. We’ll see, so don’t get nervous. There is one thing I really need to checkout.”

The doctor stopped and thought for a moment. Maggie looked up and saw his worried look. She studied him with her gaze and then settled on his mouth. Doctor Toledo licked his lips and began: “I’m not sure and quite frankly I never saw it before. I think I see a tear on the left side of your
brain. ”

Maggie felt her muscles tense. Her eyes began to water and she quickly stopped the one tear trying to escape. She sat up and looked at Doctor Toledo. “Okay, when should I schedule our next appointment?”

Chapter 9

Maggie preferred to go to the library right after school but today, she had just barely made closing time. She had totally forgotten to borrow her next reading assignment The Catcher in the Rye. She was excited to find one copy left with her name on it. She said goodnight to the librarian and left.

It was sometime after 9:30 when she started to walk home. It was a chilly night and she had forgotten her sweater. She hurried along the empty street. The streets were usually lined with old ladies sitting on their lawn chairs talking about the goings on of their neighbors. But, fall was in the air and the evening talks had ceased.

Maggie crossed the street and walked into the park. She hated the tunnel leading into the center of the park and she walked it briskly keeping her focus on the light at the end. Once through, she breathed a sigh of relief. Now she could relax.

She hugged her copy of The Catcher in the Rye. She knew all there was to know about the book. Maggie read it two years ago on her own. As she walked past the park benches, she pictured scenes and smiled as she thought of Holden and Phoebe in Central Park’s carousel. Funny how having grown up in New York and she had never been on the carousel. Maybe next summer!

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He was walking behind her watching every step she took as he had done every day for the last three weeks. He reminisced about the first day he saw her. She was the only one who had smiled at him his first day at the new school. She had a beautiful smile and long brown hair. Beautiful brown hair! He knew she was for him and today would be the day he made her his. No more fantasies. He smiled.

As he followed Maggie, he paid special attention to the way she held her book. He wanted Maggie to hold him just like that. He loved the way she wore her hair to the side when she was not in school. There she mostly wore it in a ponytail. He liked it loose.

He began to widen his stride and quickly came closer to Maggie. How should he approach her?

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Maggie looked at her watch just for a second. Suddenly a hand grabbed her from behind. It held on tightly to her forearm and she was unable to shake it off. Quickly she turned, looked up, and saw him. There was something familiar about him. She continued to struggle from his grasp but now he had taken complete control of her.

He pulled Maggie into a dark pathway running along the main walkway of the park. She resisted the whole way but she was no match for him. She was dainty and petite. He could lift her with one hand if he wanted to!

Maggie couldn’t understand why she couldn’t scream. She tried, but nothing would come forth. She tried to undo his grasp but he was too strong. He held her tightly in a bear hug and she was paralyzed. She managed to make a sound but it was not a word, nor a scream. It was more of a gurgling screech. It was enough to get him to put his mouth over hers to stifle her cry. She continued to struggle as he pulled her into the darkness.

He pushed her onto the grass and climbed on top of her locking her legs between his. He raised her arms over her head and pinned them forcefully to the ground. Maggie squirmed but he had overpowered her. She couldn’t move. As she stared into his eyes, she remembered who he was. She tried to speak to him and bring his attention to the classroom where they had met but the words just wouldn’t come out.

He buried his lips into her mouth. Maggie closed her lips tight but he just kept pushing in. Then he bit her and the pain radiated from her lips to her head. She stopped squirming and let him dig his tongue deep into her mouth.

He pulled his right hand off her wrists and began to undo his zipper. All Maggie could do was try her best to breath because the weight of his body covered her entire body and she was tired from struggling. She could taste the bitterness of the blood on her tongue. He began fondling her while trying to pull her panties out of his way. She closed her eyes as she felt him penetrate her.

Maggie felt every thrust deep inside; each thrust ripping and tearing a little piece of her. Her mind went blank. She became numb and lost all feeling and sensation. This is happening. There is no stopping it. Her mind wandered into her childhood bedroom, her dolls.

She felt the pressure lift from her body and she opened her eyes. He was still straddling her but without the force from before. He then lifted his right leg and unmounted her. Maggie pulled her skirt over her exposed body and folded it into a fetal position. She didn’t look his way.

He got up to stretch his body, satisfied and satiated. He looked at Maggie lovingly. “I always knew you would be my girlfriend... The minute we met. You’re so beautiful.”

Maggie did not turn around. He walked over to her and crouched over her body. He softly caressed her hair. Maggie pulled away. Anger set on his face and he grabbed her by the hair forcing her to him. Maggie fought.

In one motion, she swiftly turned and kneed him in the groin. But it did little to damage him. Instead, it made him angrier and he reached for a nearby rock. One blow to the head and Maggie was down.

He threw the rock to the ground and stared at her motionless body. He pulled Maggie toward him and cradled her. He kissed her face softly and lovingly. Then he laid her back on the ground.
He unzipped his pants, climbed on top of Maggie, and penetrated her again. 

 
Chapter 10

Maggie walked out of the doctor’s office wanting desperately to get home. What did all of this mean? She knew she wasn’t feeling herself but she never expected to hear any more bad news. It was just headaches and nothing more. As she walked quickly toward the bus stop, she decided to go to her mom’s house. She crossed the street instead and walked toward the subway.

Her mother’s house was on the opposite side of town in a tree-lined street. All the houses looked alike, all manicured front yards. Her mom’s house stood out from the rest. Ever since her father had passed away, her mother had tried the best she could to keep up with it but she was not healthy enough to mow the lawn and rake leaves. Depression had overtaken her life and it dictated how her days would be.

Maggie would sometimes come by and help but it had all changed since the accident. Nowadays, her visits were short and just to see how her mom was doing. She avoided talking about the accident instead focusing on her mom. Today might be different. Today she may need a shoulder to cry on.

Her mother greeted her at the door with a big hug and a kiss. Maggie followed her into the kitchen where her mom poured another tall glass of iced tea. They sat at the kitchen table and Maggie thought of the many hours she had spent right in this chair watching her mother happily prepare dinner. Or, the times when she sat next to her as she did her home work. Most of her memories in this kitchen filled her heart with warmth.

They now sat across from each other and sipped their tea without saying a word. It felt reassuring just sitting there. Her mom reached over and caressed Maggie’s arm.

Maggie decided not to bring up what the doctor had found. She chose to sit quietly with her mother. Why make her mom worried? After all, this could all be nothing. After spending a few minutes at the table, they moved to the living room and sat on the sofa.

Maggie turned on the television to her mother’s favorite show, Law and Order. It played all the time on one of those crime channels. They both settled comfortably on the couch and spent the next couple of hours quietly watching the tube.

Chapter 11

The days seemed to lump together in a blur. They were shorter now and there wasn’t much to do. Maggie was going through the motions; going to work, visiting her mom when she felt up to it, and worrying about the upcoming MRI. She couldn’t get herself to do anything else. She sat and wondered whether she should go back to school. For a minute, she thought about how different things would be if she started some classes in the spring. Maybe she would make friends!

The thought of making friends, quickly vanished from her head. She didn’t trust anyone anymore. Her only friend was David and he was just someone she could go to for insignificant things. She would never open up to anyone. She would never let anyone in. Still, taking some classes might help divert her attention from the night at the park.

She went on her computer and began researching the community colleges close to her. She found the closest to her and looked at their course offerings. But, what was she good at? She liked to read. But she couldn’t come up with anything else. She stared at the long list of offerings feeling she would never amount to anything more than what she presently was.

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As she went through the blurbs, she looked for local headlines. Then she found one: Man Found Stabbed in Front Seat of Car. According to the article, the investigation was linking this murder to two others in the area. All the men had been stabbed viciously in the stomach and all had traces of a “date drug” in their blood stream. There were no leads at this time. It added that a serial murderer was on the loose in the Bronx.

She read the article several times. Then she closed her laptop and went to take a shower