I ran out of the hospital crying while Lee was walking in,
"Kylie? What's wrong?" I couldn't even speak.
"Kylie, we are going to go to your father's." I nodded my head.
I knocked on the door with Lee right next to me.
"Mom, I don't...know...where," I said in between sobs.
"Kylie, it's okay" I pulled him towards me for a hug.
"Do we have any trace of her?" Lee asked the nurse while I held him like there was no tomorrow.
"No, the nurse said she left her phone at the hospital and packed up really fast. I don't know what happened to her or where she is. She was there yesterday, and today she was gone. Why would she leave me here? Why wouldn't she talk to me? Why didn't she take me with her instead of leaving me here with the house? I didn't like being alone. I really hated it. I didn't understand anything!"
"Kylie, I could move in with you, but I'm pretty sure you want to know me better. I'm not on a lease. It's week by week. So, I could stay here until you get everything situated and trust me more."
"I don't know what to do. I might have to move in with Lee here because I can't be alone; I can't. Not while I'm worried about mom."
"No, I'm right next door. It's okay, Kylie, we'll find her." Lee patted my back, hoping to calm me down.
I wasn't looking forward to my art classes because of the people who would be gawking at me and the others who would ask where the teacher is. I didn't go back to school, and I didn't feel like talking to anybody else but Lee.
"Lee, I love you. Idc who knows it." I texted him, and I never received a response. However, Mystery man messaged me later that night.
"Hey, Kylie, what's up?"
"Nothing much. I don't feel like talking."
He was about to respond and stopped responding.
Twenty minutes later, my doorbell dings, and it was Mystery Man in another disguise. I was surprised to see him here. I didn't think he would show up. I couldn't deal with him right now with my conflicted feelings.
"Kylie, I know you are in there! Please open up! We could watch a movie or do anything you want."
"Why do you always need to hide your face? Why can't you show me who you are?"
"I'm a superhero in disguise, but I love you, darling little star."
"Ok, whatever. Come in."
"Thank you, darling little star," he said as he entered the house and kissed my forehead.
I turned on the TV, and we watched a movie, and he just watched me. It reminded me of what I used to do to Lee. He held my hand and hand-hugged mine. He was so cute I had no idea how I got so lucky. He kissed my forehead and smelt so good, similar to Lee. I really liked men's cologne. He tried kissing me during the kiss in the movie we were watching, and I pulled away. I told him I wasn't ready, but deep in my heart, I loved Lee and always would. I knew that the moment I met him. There was something familiar about him, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it. After the movie was over, he left. I was scared that he knew my dirty little secret. Before he left, I told him something, which turned out to be a huge conversation I thought would never end.
"Hey, Mystery Man" I looked away from his eyes which were covered by the mask, because telling him a deep dark secret would cause me anxiety.
"Yeah?" he grabbed my chin and forced me to look him in his eyes.
"I am...allergic to water," I stuttered while he waited for a response, pulling my chin away from his hand that had rested on my cheek.
"Kylie, I gotta tell you something." he looked at me seriously in a way I never thought he would.
"Yeah?" I looked up at him and smiled at him. I was trying to lighten the mood.
"My name is Kyle K. I don't go to school where you go to school, but I'm not the person everybody makes me out to be. I also understand that you had a rocky relationship with Lee, and it makes me sick that he would use you like that. I don't understand why he would do that if he truly cared about you. I don't think anybody could truly satisfy your needs with your health issues unless you can conquer your fears. However, I promise to try my best to be perfect even if you don't care to dress up for me. You are perfect the way you are. If Lee can't see that, he's not the one for you." He finally told me his name.
"Kyle, I need time; I don't think now is the best. My mom disappeared, and my father is alive when I thought he was dead. Lee dumped me not too long ago, and my father broadcasted to the whole entire news channel that I had a disease. Now I really want to be like a little turtle and hide in my shell, you know?" I tried explaining because I didn't want to hurt Mystery man. He was more involved and interested in me than I was in him.
"No, I don't know, but it sounds like you're still hung up on Lee." he looked at me, saddened, as his eyes sunk into his face.
"Yes, I am. I always will be. There's literally no point in dating me."
"Hey, I understand you still love Lee, but I can help you forget him. Just say yes to being my girlfriend, and I will give you 110% of my effort. I will cherish you, and I will love you for eternity." He pleaded with me. I started thinking of his offer.
"You're trying to make it sound like we are getting married."
"No, but what do I have to do to prove that I'm good enough for you, Kylie?"
"Nothing, you're doing everything you can. I think that I am broken. I'm broken, and maybe I can't date anybody but Lee. I'm just so attracted to him, like yin and yang. I can't even explain it. Have you ever felt this way?"
"Yes" his voice turned sullen.
"Who made you feel that way?" I was curious and knew I shouldn't have pushed him so hard. Yet the words started to flow out of his mouth.
"I dated this girl over the summer, and she just ended up hurting me even more than she was worth, and we knew each other for like five years, and to imagine just her being able to end a relationship and a friendship in the snap of a finger just really startled me. I started to lay in bed and ignored everything that she was doing. Then I found out she was dating my best friend; this felt like a lifetime ago because I was different. I travel a lot and blend in well. I try not to fall in love. With you, I am just plain attracted. I see your heart, your mind; I feel your soul. You are just like me in so many ways. Also, a disease shouldn't define you; I'm here to protect you if you need it. I haven't felt like this since her, so I really need you in my life as you need me, please?"
"We can be friends, but nothing more if that will help?"
"It's something I guess I gotta deal with. It is a start."
"I'm sorry I can't love you unconditionally like I love Lee, but Lee is my rock. He helps stabilize me when the winds get rough. He's like a root to my tree to keep me balanced and in the ground."
"It's okay. I understand. But you're never going to get over him, my precious star. He loves you too. I can tell. When I knocked on your door, Lee came out of his house, got in his car, drove off, and he hasn't been back since. So please be careful."
"Why don't you try and get back with her? You are like this great guy. You have the right words, and you're so romantic."
"I haven't seen her in years; I'm not even sure where she is. I dated her years ago. I know we were young, but we went out on dates. I don't know; maybe it was less like a mature love to her than a play love. We dated for like two years, though. Towards the end, she got really bossy and stopped caring about me. Still to this day, I wonder where she is or what she's doing."
"Oh man, that really sucks. I'm so sorry."
I grabbed him in for a hug and patted him on the back. His smell was so wonderful I wondered if I was doing the right thing. I remembered how many years I had known Lee. I thought of all the things Lee had said and done throughout.
"I'm sorry people treat a good guy like you this way. I'm seriously confused as to why somebody would do that to you."
"It's okay; some are lucky, others are not. You're lucky to have Lee. I hope he knows it and treats you well, but if not, I'll be your rebound," he winked at me.
"Haha. Very funny," I said. I knew in my heart I had to choose what I wanted. I had to let go of my secret admirer.
"Alright, well, I gotta go. I got quite a bit of homework to do."
"Ok, goodnight, my sweet. Till we meet again."
It was getting late that night, and I guess Lee had left. I didn't know where he went. Maybe he was partying; maybe he was with other girls; maybe he moved away. Who knows anymore? It seemed every time I would get closer to somebody, they disappeared, left, or moved. Either way, I was kinda bored, so I put on my disguise and went to another party that Kylie wasn't invited to, but Kryina and Natalia certainly were. Marissa drove us, and I was hanging around with Marissa as soon as we got out. Neisha walked up to us. She was friendly and gave me a hug. Even if I hid my true self, I was delighted to be on her good side. It was the only way to get people to like me. Then it happened, and I was drunk, while Marissa was the Designated Driver. The flashing of red and blue lights at the front of the house