Chapter 7: "Alone with Her Thoughts"

The silence of the house was almost deafening as Dorothy stood there, still trying to process what had just happened. Stan had saved her from a potentially disastrous situation, and yet, she couldn't shake off the feeling of vulnerability that lingered. She walked over to the window, staring out at the quiet street, her mind replaying the events that had just transpired. As she stood there, she felt a lump form in her throat, and before she knew it, tears began to well up in her eyes again. She tried to hold them back, but it was no use. She let out a soft sob, and then another, as she felt the weight of her emotions bearing down on her. Dorothy felt alone, even though she knew Stan was just down the street. She felt like she was reliving a nightmare, one that she thought she had left behind years ago. Lucas's face kept flashing in her mind, his eyes, his smile, his menacing tone. She shuddered at the thought of him, and the tears flowed freely. She wandered over to the couch, collapsing onto the cushions, and buried her face in a pillow. She let out a muffled cry, as she felt the tears streaming down her face. She was scared, she was vulnerable, and she was alone. The room seemed to be closing in on her, and Dorothy felt like she was suffocating. She needed to get out of there, to clear her head, but her legs felt like lead, and she couldn't seem to move. As she lay there, she started to think about her life, about the choices she had made, about the people she had let in. She thought about Stan, and how he had always been there for her, even when they were apart. She thought about the girls, and how they had become her family. But most of all, she thought about Lucas, and how he had made her feel. She felt like she was back in a place she thought she had left behind, a place of fear, of uncertainty. She didn't know how to get out of it, or how to make it stop. The tears eventually subsided, leaving Dorothy feeling drained, and exhausted. She lay there for a long time, her mind racing, her heart heavy. She didn't know what the future held, but she knew she couldn't stay there, stuck in the past. She slowly got up, and walked over to the kitchen, pouring herself a glass of water. As she stood there, sipping the cool liquid, she felt a sense of determination wash over her. She would get through this, she would face it head-on. And she would do it with the help of her friends, and maybe, just maybe, with Stan by her side. The thought sent a shiver down her spine, and Dorothy couldn't help but wonder what the future held for her, and for those she loved. But for now, she just took a deep breath, and let the silence of the house envelop her, trying to find some sense of peace in the midst of chaos.