Her Own Enemy: A Twisted Psychological Thriller, page 1
Her Own Enemy
Penelope McGrath
Copyright 2023 by Penelope McGrath - All rights reserved.
In no way is it legal to reproduce, duplicate, or transmit any part of this document in either electronic means or in printed format. Recording of this publication is strictly prohibited and any storage of this document is not allowed unless with written permission from the publisher.
All rights reserved.
Respective authors own all copyrights not held by the publisher.
Contents
1. Chapter One
2. Chapter Two
3. Chapter Three
4. Chapter Four
5. Chapter Five
6. Chapter Six
7. Chapter Seven
8. Chapter Eight
9. Chapter Nine
10. Chapter Ten
11. Chapter Eleven
12. Chapter Twelve
13. Chapter Thirteen
14. Chapter Fourteen
15. Chapter Fifteen
16. Chapter Sixteen
17. Chapter Seventeen
18. Chapter Eighteen
19. Chapter Nineteen
20. Chapter Twenty
21. Chapter Twenty-one
22. Chapter Twenty-two
23. Chapter Twenty-three
24. Capter Twenty-four
The End
Dark Secret Ending Sneak Peek
Let's Stay In Touch!
Chapter One
Annalise
Can a traumatized and paranoid woman still be a good mother?
Annalise thought back to the tears pooling in Mackenzie’s green eyes as Annalise gently touched her blonde hair, soothing her doll of a daughter. She was sinking into depression, a black abyss drowning her.
She had been so absorbed by the darkness that she forgot to pick up her own daughter from school. Even though she was a stay-at-home mother. Even though Mackenzie was her sole reason for existing.
The harsh phone call from Mackenzie’s teacher was the only thing that stirred her. She had rushed to the school, but it was too late. Annalise was always too late.
“If I can’t be a good mother to Mackenzie, do I even have a right to exist?” Annalise whispered. “If I can’t be a good wife either then…”
Annalise closed her eyes as she waited in the doctor’s office. She took a few deep breaths, reminding herself that those dark days were over. Her mental health has improved since then.
Still, she checked the time once again. Only three and a half minutes had passed since she checked it last. She wouldn’t be late. If she kept her appointment down to a reasonable length, she would still have time to pick up Mackenzie from school.
There was no reason for her appointment to take long. She was doing fine. This was just a normal check-in.
I’m doing fine! I don’t know why everyone is nagging me all the time.
The words of Annalise’s mother returned to haunt her. Even when her mother was deep in her addiction, she couldn’t see the destruction she was causing.
As Annalise was called into Dr. Hubert’s office, she wondered if she was blind to her own failings. She had sought help but was it enough?
Was she enough?
“How are you doing, Annalise?” Dr. Hubert asked as she sat on the blue couch facing him.
Natural light rushing in from the windows overpowered any lingering shadows. A few tastefully chosen plants tried to soak up the patients’ heartbreaking stories, turning their struggles into fresh oxygen for others to breathe.
“I’m doing okay,” Annalise replied. “No changes. I…”
Annalise paused. For almost two years now, she had been stable. She still fell into those depressive episodes occasionally, but she was cured. There shouldn’t be any reason for her to hesitate.
“I’m doing well. The meds are working. Everything is under control.”
“That’s good to hear,” Dr. Hubert said. “You look well.”
She nodded. She brushed her gold hair obsessively that day and chose light makeup to enhance her hazel eyes, paired with a casual yellow sundress. She didn’t want to raise any alarm bells.
“I guess I do notice I’ve had some sadder days lately,” she admitted, after the usual string of questions. “A bit of anxiety, I guess.”
“Anxiety about what?” He glanced at her, a mix of concern and thoughtfulness in his eyes.
“About not being a good enough mother. And… sometimes I get the feeling that my husband is hiding something from me, even though he’s always been wonderful and supportive.”
Annalise thought back to when she was really struggling, back before she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and treated with the proper medication. A mental break had cut her college education short with just one year left. It seemed like everyone at the time was disappointed in her.
Not Robert, though. He supported her through all of it. He took care of her when she needed him. When they became parents, he worked while she stayed home with their daughter.
With Mackenzie now in school, Annalise had taken on some freelance photography work that wasn’t enough to pay the bills but gave her a sense of purpose. He never questioned her passions. She couldn’t ask for a better husband.
“Have you discussed this with your therapist?” Dr. Hubert asked.
Annalise looked away as she thought back to her last therapy session over three months ago. Revisiting the past was too painful. She wanted to stick to taking meds and moving on without thinking about it.
“Yes,” Annalise replied. “That’s been helpful. I’m sure it’s just that I’m a little overwhelmed, so that sometimes makes me anxious.”
Her mind flickered back to the articles she tried not to read anymore. Home late. Change in appearance. More protective over his phone. Happier for no apparent reason.
“That can happen,” he said empathetically. “Seeking treatment is a huge step toward being a better mother and wife. You just have to silence that old inner voice. We’ll add an anti-anxiety medication, even short term, to get you through this difficult patch.”
She considered the value of that. There was a fine line between getting the proper treatment so she could function and battling the adjustment period and initial side effects.
“I think I’ll be okay for now,” she decided. “I’ll come back if it gets worse.”
Dr. Hubert looked hesitant.
“I’ve noticed you seem to struggle with making appointments when you need them. Problems sometimes go unchecked until your regularly scheduled appointments, allowing things to pile up.”
Annalise was quiet as Robert’s voice slithered through her mind.
I thought your appointment wasn’t for another couple of weeks? Is something wrong? Are you slipping back again?
“How about I write you a prescription for a low dose of anti-anxiety pills?” Dr. Hubert suggested. “You can take them if you feel like you need them. If you don’t need them, no need to take them. We’ll check back in about a month to see how you’re doing.”
Annalise hesitated. Another appointment in just a month might make Robert suspect something was wrong. As would getting a new prescription. She didn’t want to worry him again when things were mostly fine.
The clock drew her attention, paralyzing all other thoughts. She had to leave soon or she would be late picking Mackenzie up.
“Sure. That sounds great.”
Annalise stood to leave as Dr. Hubert sent her prescription, then hastily made a new appointment at the front desk.
Anxiety surged as she finally reached her car.
You’re a horrible mother.
You’ll be late yet again.
Why can’t you be better?
All these doctor’s appointments, all these prescriptions. You still can’t get it together.
Imagine what the teachers will think of you.
Remember that look on Mackenzie’s face?
Silent accusations taunted her as Annalise’s foot came down on the gas pedal with a little more force.
She kept glancing at the clock, her consistent enemy.
Annalise pushed her luck further, then just a little further as she drove. The risk didn’t escape her notice, but she couldn’t bear to face their judgments.
As her eyes remained focused on the road, her mind reminded her of the depths of her depression. Thoughts lingered of the days she forgot to pick up Mackenzie at all.
She remembered the look on her teacher’s face, a painful combination of annoyance and admonishment that fed the darkness. The look on Mackenzie’s had been worst of all though. A heartbreaking mix of confusion and embarrassment.
Annalise never wanted her daughter to feel embarrassed of her ever again.
A horn blared as Annalise narrowly avoided being hit by a car, so distracted she blew past a stop sign. Her heart pounded as she thought about the horrible things that driver was now thinking about her.
The close call made her ease up on the gas pedal, tacking on a few extra minutes that seemed like hours as she approached the school.
Tears of relief were ready to fall as Annalise pulled into the pickup lane and noticed a handful of children waiting. As soon as she got out of the car, seven-year-old Mackenzie ran over.
Mackenzie’s blonde hair captured rays of sunlight as her green eyes widened in love. Her purple dress swished around her, a perfect angel that Annalise a
dored. She hugged her daughter tightly, reminded of everything she lived for. Then, she let her go as they got into the car.
As Mackenzie told Annalise all about her day, Annalise’s anxiety disappeared. When her daughter was around, she was so distracted by being a mother that she didn’t have the time to obsess over whether she was doing a good job at it or not. It came naturally.
Because of this, she decided she didn’t need to stop at the pharmacy that afternoon. She would pick up the prescription tomorrow when Mackenzie was at school. Instead, she drove straight to her modest house in the suburbs that offered her all the peace she was desperate for.
The two-level, white house with a perfectly maintained backyard, pool, and barbecue area looked welcoming to anyone passing by. The epitome of middle-class life. It was a standard that was kept as they walked into the house as well.
The light, neutral-colored flooring and walls were stain free and decorated with tastefully chosen artwork, pictures Mackenzie made, and pricey furniture in shades of white, crème, blue, and grey, with hints of green and violet in between.
Annalise worked diligently to maintain the perfect household after her failure. Keeping it together was her greatest source of pride.
She tried to maintain that upbeat attitude as she prepared an after-school snack, then helped Mackenzie with her homework before turning to cook an elaborate dinner.
As she started dinner, though, the anxious thoughts returned.
“Have you noticed that Daddy seems to like different foods lately?” Annalise asked Mackenzie.
Mackenzie shrugged, barely paying attention. “I guess,” her daughter answered. Then, she giggled. “He’s less boring lately.”
Though she said it in a carefree tone, the observation scalded Annalise’s heart. Robert had become more interesting lately, more complex. That was one of the things that worried her most.
When she asked him what he wanted her to make, he had shown a new interest in different dishes. He asked for foods he never ate before like kale, seaweed, sushi, matcha, kombucha, and acai bowls. Everything had to be organic.
At first, she didn’t take too much notice. Eventually, the inner demon kicked in. Malicious whispers poisoned her mind.
Where is he learning about these kinds of foods?
He never took an interest in it before.
He’s probably going out to different restaurants with another woman and trying new things.
He’s inspired by her.
He’s bored of you.
“That’s not true,” Annalise whispered. “You’re just being paranoid.”
As she cooked, she ran through a list of other signs and Robert’s responses.
I’m advancing in my career. It’s made me see the importance of fashion, and how it makes people view me.
Of course, I’m happy. Our life is perfect!
Sweetheart, long hours are what leads to these important promotions. I still make time for you and Mackenzie, don’t I?
None of it was enough for Annalise to prove something was wrong. Even the late nights weren’t the kind that caused huge red flags. So, she stopped bringing it up.
The worries still lingered.
As Annalise was just about to finish cooking dinner, she was interrupted by a text. As always, she checked her phone immediately. Her heart sank when she read Robert’s message.
Sorry, sweetheart. A work meeting ran late again. I’m going to be about twenty-five minutes late. Don’t worry about waiting for me, though. You and Mackenzie can eat dinner whenever it’s ready. Love you both!
While texting a quick reply back, she wondered what he needed that extra time for.
Another woman?
“No,” she muttered. “Men like that don’t even warn their wives when they’ll be late. Robert is a good man. He’s a good husband.”
“What?” Mackenzie asked.
Annalise blushed as she scrambled to figure out how to make sure their dinner remained fresh and hot, so it’d be perfect when Robert got home.
“Nothing, darling,” she said. “Daddy’s going to be home a little late tonight. But that gives us time to color a picture for him while we’re waiting.”
She focused on spending time with her daughter, silencing the doubts.
Still, an angry frostiness had settled over her by the time Robert arrived home.
Mackenzie ran to hug her father as usual, while Annalise went straight into the kitchen instead of greeting him right away. She feared if she saw him too soon, she might say the things she had been trying to keep in her head.
Annalise took deep breaths as she prepared dinner and listened to Robert walk into the kitchen. She closed her eyes for a moment to gather her composure, then turned to greet him.
“Hey, honey,” Robert said, setting a bag on the kitchen counter. He walked over and wrapped her up in a hug, topping it with a kiss. “How was your day?”
“It was good,” Annalise replied. “I missed you though.”
“I know. I’m sorry I’m late again but… I brought home dessert to make up for it!”
Robert let her go to show her what was in the bag.
“I know I’ve been gone a lot, so I thought you might like a sweet surprise.”
Annalise’s mood brightened when she noticed that the bag had come from their favorite bakery. Her favorites were their pies which reminded her of living with her grandparents, the best years of her childhood. Mackenzie loved their vanilla cake with colorful buttercream frosting, while Robert was more of a cookie person.
When Robert pulled out a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. Annalise’s suspicions returned.
Sure, chocolate cake seemed innocent enough. But why would Robert get a treat that wasn’t any of their favorites? He had never brought home chocolate cake before.
“What’s wrong?” Robert asked, catching Annalise’s expression.
“Nothing,” she said, telling herself she was being ungrateful. “Thank you! It looks delicious!”
“Something seems off,” he replied, his eyes narrowing.
Annalise blushed, reminded of how difficult it was to keep anything from the man who knew her better than anyone.
“I guess I’m just…surprised is all,” Annalise admitted. “We don’t usually get chocolate cake.”
“We always get the same things,” he said with a shrug. “And sometimes it’s difficult to remember what everyone likes. So, I went with a classic.”
She knew that shouldn’t sting the way it did, but she couldn’t understand how it was difficult for him to remember after all the years they’d spent together. How could he forget when they always got the same things?
Was he thinking of some other woman when he picked the cake out?
“I’m excited to try it,” Annalise said, covering her feelings with a smile that finally made him seem to relax. Crisis adverted.
Still in the back of her mind, a little voice grew louder insisting that something wasn’t right.
It’s just cake.
You’re being ridiculous.
Who gets so upset over their husband bringing home cake?
It’s another woman.
No man can put up with your type of issues for as long as Robert has. It’s made him restless.
There is another woman.
Annalise’s mind was more scattered than ever as she tiptoed out of the bedroom past midnight. As they had gotten ready for bed that night, she had noticed something she now couldn’t stop thinking about.
She tried to ignore it. She tried to be a good wife and go to sleep, giving her husband the benefit of the doubt. He had never given her reason not to trust him.
Yet she hadn’t told him he had left his cell phone in the upstairs bathroom. She pretended to ignore it.
Now, she couldn’t ignore it.
Slowly, and quietly, Annalise nudged the bathroom door open to slip inside. She kept the light off, not wanting to draw attention, and left the door open just a crack so it wouldn’t look like anyone was inside.
Annalise found the phone using the faint glow of the nightlight, her mind screaming at her to stop as she picked it up and the screen came to life.
It was a bright, blinding beam that signaled to everyone that she didn’t trust her husband. She quickly lowered the brightness level and tried to get past the lock screen.
The typical password didn’t work.
Her hands began to tremble as she realized this was just another clue something was wrong. They shared their passwords to all their devices. There was no need to change the passwords now.
