I wanted to open the door more than anything but I couldn't make myself do it. I would like to say it was the rational part of my brain reminding me that this man wasn't mentally stable and could potentially harm me, but it wasn't. I was selfishly scared for my whole life to change once I learned who the man inside was.
I've never considered myself a coward, but in that moment I was. I backed away from the door and ran as quickly as I could up those stupid, round stairs. Hitting my shins when I tripped. I felt trapped underground and couldn't get the door open fast enough. I got the door unlocked and opened and stumbled out into the library. My hands immediately went to my knees and my hair fell over my face as I took deep, long inhales of fresh air.
Deformed as his face was, I had no d
