Vindicated by Keary Taylor Page A

doors.   I leaned against the wall, tipping my head back, and letting out a slow breath.
    You can do this , I told myself.   You just have to make it until tomorrow night and it will be all over.
    Feeling my insides start to calm, I opened my eyes.
    He was there again.   Standing in the middle of the road, just watching me through the window.
    I reacted without thinking.   I crossed to the front door in one too-fast movement and yanked the door open.  
    “Hey,” I called as I jumped down the front step.   The man started walking down the street, right on the yellow line.   “Hey,” I said again as I crossed the lawn, quickening my pace to catch up with him.
    He didn’t look back at me, just continued to head west down the road.
    “What do you want from me?” I demanded as I followed him.   “Why are you following me?”   He still remained silent.   “I know what you are and I know where you’ve come from.   You’re not supposed to be here.   So why are you here ?”
    The sun sank in the horizon, washing the earth in brilliant golden tones.   Just before it sank below the top of the buildings, I was blinded for a short moment.   I held my hand up to block the light, squinting to make out the man’s form.
    But he was already gone.
    My breathing was coming in gasping breaths, my hands shaking.   Not from fear, but from anger.  
    Why couldn’t the afterlife just leave me alone already?
    Shouts rose from the direction of my parents backyard and before I could even think, I was jogging back.   As I rounded the corner, I saw Rod’s fist connect with another boy’s jaw.   Rod’s nose was already bleeding, covering his lips and teeth with red.   The other guy just growled as he was knocked to the ground, swinging back at Rod as they hit the ground.
    Alex shoved his way through the crowd, grabbing Rod by the back of his shirt and pulling him off of the other guy.   Holding the two apart as they continued to try and swing at each other, Alex turned hard eyes on the other guy.   “You seriously need to leave now.”   Even though he didn’t raise his voice, it was filled with enough power to make anyone shake.
    Giving Rod and Alex looks that would kill if they could, he spit red liquid on the ground.   Wiping at his mouth with his bare arm, he shoved Alex’s hand away and walked around the other corner of the house without looking back once.
    Everyone stood in a circle for a silent moment, shock at seeing an actual fight break out in the middle of a party.
    “Let’s move on people,” Dad said, waving everyone away from Rod and Alex.   Erupting into conversations, they disbursed.
    “What was that all about?” I asked, turning my focus to Amber who was fussing over Rod as he cradled his hand.
    “That,” she said as she grabbed a napkin and some ice cubes from the table.   “Was Todd.”
    “Your ex who beat the crap out of you?” I asked, my insides flaring instantly.
    Amber nodded.   “He showed up a few minutes ago, calling me a deserting whore.   He tried grabbing me.”
    “He seriously shouldn’t have done that,” Rod said through clenched teeth.   “You should have just let me at him, Alex.   Guys like that need to learn a lesson or two from someone who can stand up to them.”
    “And if I hadn’t stepped in you’d be spending the night in a jail cell,” Alex piped up, his voice sounding on edge.   I saw the way his entire frame was shaking.
    The afterlife was calling.
    “Cool it!” Alex barked, his tone just a little too harsh.
    Amber and Rod ducked inside to take care of his hand and bleeding nose, their expressions slightly startled at Alex’s outburst.
    “His temper is really going to get him in trouble someday,” Alex said.   He squeezed his eyes closed, taking a deep breath.
    “I saw him again,” I said quietly, changing the subject.   I softly put my hand on his quaking arm.   “I followed him.
    “You did?” Alex’s eyes flashed open.