Chapter 12: There You Are
The soft thud of the apartment door closing behind Abigail as she hurried in sent a wave of relief rushing over her.
She leaned her back against the door for a moment, her chest rising and falling as she caught her breath.
Genevieve wasn't home yet. Good. She needed to prepare herself before her sister's inevitable arrival.
Without wasting another second, Abigail pushed off the door and hurried to her room. She moved swiftly, shedding her clothes and stepping into the bathroom to freshen up. The cool water against her skin washed away the tension from the night and the remnant of Jamal's cologne on her.
After drying off, she slipped into a simple dress that helped her blend into the background as always and then quickly put on her wig and contact lenses.
As she looked around the room, her eyes landed on the stuffed panda sitting on her bed. Its button eyes stared back at her, a silent witness to her most cherished memories.
She felt a strange tug on her heart as she picked it up gently, her fingers brushing over the soft fur, which felt oddly familiar.
'From your color, I can tell you're female. What should I name you?' She mused silently as she looked into its eyes.
As she tried to figure out a name, the first name that came to her mind was Lucy, and she smiled.
'How about Lucy? I think I like it. It sounds fitting and simple enough.'
As she held Lucy close to herself, her brows pulled together when it occurred to her that Genevieve would most likely try to take Lucy from her if she saw it.