Jeff dragged his heavy feet toward Alicia’s ward. He stopped at the door, placed his hands on the doorknob, but his heart pounded in his chest as he turned it, as though walking toward his own death.

He opened the door gently, stepped inside, and leaned against it as he closed it softly behind him. His eyes immediately landed on Alicia, unconscious on the sickbed, beeping machines connected to her.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, his eyes welling with tears. His heart thudded painfully, his nerves taut with anxiety.

He had tried many times to approach her since the accident, but each time, it felt as though he couldn’t move any closer than the door. Every time he tried to take a step forward, his breath quickened, his heartbeat accelerated, and his nerves seized up—he didn’t know when he had become so fearful. The memories of everything he had done to her, of everyone around him who had been affected, flooded his mind. He was paralyzed by the guilt and the fear of facing her.

Panting, Jeff slumped to the floor, wincing and sobbing. He pressed his hand to his chest as his heart raced, as though it might burst. His hands trembled, and his head pounded.

Jeff gasped in pain, clutching his head.

..............

“I thought you loved her, Jeff,” his aunt scoffed. “You didn’t just deceive her, you deceived me too.”

............

“You put her life in danger from the beginning! You jerk! You should be ashamed of yourself for dating two sisters, but now you have the nerve to show up in front of me. She trusted you, and I trusted you, but…”

Jeff gasped and shut his eyes tightly.

..............

“Don’t touch me!”

The small boy’s voice echoed in Jeff’s mind. “Leave our house!”

The man’s laughter echoed in his head. “Don’t be stubborn, boy. It’ll be better if you behave yourself.”

“No! Leave my son! Don’t touch him!”

Jeff cried out as Rebecca screamed, and the sound of the gunshot that pierced her neck rang in his ears.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

...............

Jeff buried his face in his palms as the image of Alicia, bleeding in a pool of blood with a glass shard in her stomach, flashed before his eyes again. The broken glass, the scattered pictures, and the mingling scent of cosmetics and blood overwhelmed his senses.

“Please, please, stop, stop!” he begged, as though someone were controlling his senses. The more he tried to regain control, the more he sank deeper into his anxiety.

.............

“Kate! Kate! Kate!”

The anxious voice of Jason calling out to Kate throbbed in Jeff’s head.

Gripping his head in his hands, he stumbled out of the ward, using the walls for support.

Several doctors saw him and offered to help, but he shouted, “Get lost!” and shoved their hands away.

When he finally reached his car, he folded his arms across it and buried his face in his arms, weeping quietly, his anger rising as he struck the car.

Why? Why do I have to hurt everyone around me? He slumped to the ground, tugging at his hair. What have I done? He cried out to the empty night, as though the silence could offer him comfort. I should have stayed away from her. No, no... His shoulders shook as he cried harder. You should have let go, you fool... Why? Why...

*************************************************************************************************************************************

It was midnight when Jeff left the hospital parking lot, speeding toward the cemetery. He parked his car beneath a large tree, stepping out with a sigh, eyes locking on the rusty gate of the old cemetery.

He walked among the graves. The tombstones were old, some cracked and overgrown. Leaves covered the ground, untouched by care for years.

Languidly, Jeff wandered through the graveyard. His hand was buried deep in his pocket; the other gripped a bottle of alcohol, his eyes scanning the worn names on the stones. His shirt clung awkwardly, his hair a tangled mess, and dark circles marked his face, remnants of sleepless nights.

When he saw the name he had been searching for, he froze for a moment. His eyes widened, then narrowed as he approached the grave, stopping at its base.

Jeff Anderson

The name hit him, and a bitter smirk twisted his lips.

The tomb was intact, but dusty, littered with leaves, and entangled in cobwebs.

“Why Jeff, not Josh?” he mocked, his voice dripping with venom. “The boy’s dead too. You should have been buried with him,” he scoffed, taking another swig from the bottle.

He laughed bitterly, his chest tightening, then exhaled sharply.

Squatting down, he continued, “I haven’t been here since you were buried. Always too scared of remembering someone buried alive. It’s one of my worst nightmares, Jeff—Jeff?” He snickered to himself, shaking his head. “I don’t even know if I should still call you Jeff. I’m so used to it... What a damn impostor.”

A sharp hiss escaped him.

“I stole everything from you,” his voice cracked, the weight of his confession hitting hard. “Your family. Your friends… Alicia, your company, your life. I don’t even know who I am anymore… that innocent boy.” His voice broke, shaking with emotion. “Josh died the day you did.”

A long pause hung between them, his breath shallow. “At first, I was ashamed, scared. But eventually, I started to live your life... enjoy what you had. I forgot Josh. And when people called me by that name...” His lips quivered, a bitter smile forming. “It sounded like a curse. I thought I could have Alicia. I fell for her, but I was wrong. I can’t have any of this.”

He looked away for a moment, as if seeing something in the distance.

“What would Aunt say if she found out? What would Alicia think if she knew? I’ve been terrified of her finding out who I am... that’s why I dated Alena. I thought it would keep the lie going... but now... Now, I see how wrong I was.” His voice trailed off.

“Why?” he choked, his voice barely audible. “Why do I have to make everyone suffer? Why do I have to live this lie? Why do I have to make everyone’s lives meaningless?” His breath hitched. He grabbed the bottle, taking another gulp. “Tell me, why?”