The Stalker Between US

Chapter 30

Julia POVThe moment I saw the first message, a cold wave of nausea washed over me. The words were twisted, invasive, and threatening—so much more than the usual harassment. My hands began to tremble, and my vision blurred as more notifications appeared, each one more disturbing than the last. I felt the blood drain from my face, my legs suddenly weak beneath me.

Without thinking, I dropped my phone, barely registering the sharp clatter it made on the floor. Panic seized my chest, making it hard to breathe. I turned and rushed to the bathroom, my stomach threatening to revolt. The world seemed to narrow to the pounding of my heart and the sickening dread blooming in my gut.

I barely made it to the toilet before vomiting, my body convulsing as fear and disgust overwhelmed me. Tears pricked my eyes, and I pressed my forehead to the cool porcelain, desperate to steady myself. My hands shook so badly I could hardly wipe my mouth, and as I reached for a tissue, my elbow knocked over a box of tampons on the shelf.

The box tumbled to the floor, spilling its contents across the tiles. I stared at the mess, my mind flickering with a strange clarity. I hadn’t needed them in weeks—three, to be exact. The realization settled uneasily in my stomach, mingling with the terror of the messages. I was late. Very late. Fear sharpened anew, but this time it was different—more personal, more complicated.

I reached for the box, picking up a stray tampon, and tried to focus on my breathing. The chaos in my mind made it hard to think straight. Was it stress? The stalker? The whirlwind of night shifts and panic? A dozen explanations circled, but the possibility I might be pregnant lingered in the back of my thoughts, pushing through the haze of anxiety.

I tried to steady myself, but my mind wouldn’t let go of the stalker’s words. How had he gotten my phone number? I thought I’d been careful, but the messages proved otherwise. Had he stolen it from the hospital records? Had he overheard me at work, or intercepted something online? The uncertainty gnawed at me, making me feel exposed and vulnerable.

I wrapped my arms around myself, sinking to the bathroom floor among the scattered tampons. The sense of violation was overwhelming—not just the fear of being watched, but the realization that someone had breached my most private spaces. My home, my phone, my body—nothing felt safe anymore.

I closed my eyes, willing myself to calm down. I knew Ethan would come looking for me soon, and I needed to be strong. The stalker’s threats were terrifying, but I refused to let them destroy me. I took a shaky breath, trying to push past the nausea and confusion, and promised myself I’d find answers—no matter what it took.