Saturday, 10/27
Dear Diary,
You will not believe the night I had.
I had originally planned on staying in.
Wednesday is Halloween, meaning everyone’s celebrating this weekend with costume themed parties and bloody cocktails. I don’t like big crowds and loud music definitely isn’t my thing, so staying home and watching scary movies while eating buckets of candy was my original plan. But I made the mistake of inviting Jessie.
As soon as she walked into my apartment in a full jester costume with bright red lipstick and thick black eyeliner, I knew the night wasn’t going to go as planned.
“It’s just a party, Nina!” she kept repeating over and over, as if parties are just something I attend every weekend. I tried explaining to her my spiel with parties. If I wanted to be in a hot, humid, crowded room packed to capacity with scary, weird people I’ve never seen before, I could just go to hell.
She said I was already in the Halloween spirit.
After much, much convincing, I finally gave in and decided it would be okay if we went to ONE party for ONE hour (or less if I died of heat stroke). Jessie got really excited and began picking out my costume and everything. After lots of back and forth, we settled on an angel costume with little white wings. Jessie said it was fitting for me. I told her to shut up.
Anyway, I got in costume, and Jessie began telling me about how iconic this yearly Halloween party is, how lucky she is that she was able to score an invitation, and how lucky I am that she chose me as her plus one. I know she was telling me this to get me excited, but I was still so nervous. Everyone knows I don’t do well with strangers and how anxious I get around new people.
I told her I felt in my gut that I shouldn’t go.
She said (and I quote) “Screw your gut. Act like a normal twenty two year old and have fun”.
I took a second to think about what she said. I know I stay in too much, and that most people my age are out partying and having fun.
“Come on,” she said. “We don’t have to stay for that long, and you can die happy knowing you accompanied your best friend at the greatest party of the year”.
I rolled my eyes and laughed at her dramatics. I told her that if my happiness upon death is dependent on me attending this party, I’ll go.
So we got in the car, and we went.
As we pulled up to the venue, I was pleasantly surprised. It was a large white house with huge pillars in the front. There was a flight of stairs (A LOT of stairs) leading up to a giant door with a security guard. Jessie made some joke asking if it lived up to my standards. It did.
I was expecting the security guard to be like the ones in the movies- super strict, thoroughly reading your invitation before hesitantly letting you into a party. This was not the case. Whoever this guard was, he was not taking his job too seriously. He looked at us, asked if we were invited, and let us right in. I asked Jessie if she thought it was weird that he didn’t even check our invitation. She said I was looking too far into it.
As soon as we walked into the party, my sight was flooded with fancy people in expensive costumes. I mean any character you could think of, there was someone dressing up as it, with maybe an added diamond bracelet or gold chain. It was quite a sight to behold.
We walked through the crowd onto a large balcony overlooking the Hudson River. You could see the moon reflecting off the shaky waters. Jessie asked if I wanted a drink, I said no, and she walked to the bar to get her own.
I continued to admire the view, until I was taken out of my daze by a quick tap on my back.
I spun around in panic, and was met by a man in a black suit wearing bright red devil ears and a friendly smile.
“Hi” he said “I’m Simon”.
I told him my name and that he really shouldn’t sneak up on people like that. He apologized, explaining that he didn’t mean to scare me, but wanted to point out that our costumes go together (angel and devil- very original). We laughed it off, and he asked me where I’m from.
Suddenly, we began talking about everything and anything. I think this was because he would just ask me a lot of questions, and as soon as I ran out of things to say, he would throw another one at me. This went on for a while until I saw Jessie walking back with her drink. I pointed her out to Simon, and then he made some comment about not realizing I came here with someone else, but I couldn’t quite hear him. I turned around to wave at Jessie, but as soon as I turned back, Simon was gone. Before I could say anything, Jessie grabbed my hand and dragged me to the dance floor. We spent the rest of the night dancing, laughing, and secretly making fun of people’s costumes, until we were both exhausted, and agreed it was time to go. As we drove home, I told Jessie about Simon, who she started calling ‘mystery man’. When we finally got to my apartment and said our goodbyes, Jessie asked me what Simon’s last name was. I told her I never got it, and asked her why she wanted to know. She told me she was just wondering because she had studied the whole guest list, and didn’t remember seeing a ‘Simon’ on it. Now it was my turn to say that Jessie was looking too far into it.
Anyway, that was my night. I went to a party, and got myself a mystery man. Maybe I should start ignoring my gut more often!
Until next time,
Nina
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Sunday, 10/28
Dear Nina,
Hey! It’s Simon- we met at the party last night.
I hope you remember me, because I most definitely remember you.
You were without a doubt the most beautiful woman there. Your bright green eyes had me hypnotized, and you still have me in a trance.
Your sweet voice brought me warmth on that cold balcony, and I must see you again.
I’m attending another party tonight- it’s at The View over the Hudson. I’d love for you to join me.
I’ll be looking for you, angel.
Your loving admirer,
Simon
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Sunday, 10/28
Dear Diary,
You’re never going to believe this!
This morning, I went downstairs to eat breakfast, and under my door, there was a letter.
A letter- from Simon! Can you believe it? Do people even write letters anymore?? Let alone ‘secret admirer’ letters? I was flattered.
He talked about how I was ‘the most beautiful girl at the party’ and my eyes had him ‘hypnotized’- I didn’t know he was so poetic! It amazes me that he would take the time to write all that!
Anyway, he invited me to another party tonight, but I really was planning on staying in- especially considering I have work tomorrow. I know work isn’t stopping Jessie from celebrating Halloweekend night two, but I’m exhausted. Do you think he’ll be disappointed if I don’t show? Especially since he took all that time to write me a letter? I can’t even respond to him- I never got his number or anything. Now that I think about it, I’m not even sure how he got my address. I’m sure I’m looking into it again- I always am.
Whatever. Two parties in two days is way too much. I’m going to sleep!
Until next time,
Nina
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10/29
Dear Nina,
I am very disappointed.
I attended the party, expecting to see you, but you didn’t show. When someone invites you somewhere, you are expected to attend, Nina. That was very rude of you. You’ve made me very angry. At the first party you told me you enjoyed our conversation- You are a liar, and a dirty manipulator. You are very lucky I’m a forgiving person- god knows you deserve to be reprimanded.
Simon
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10/29
Dear Diary,
Another letter was left under my door this morning from Simon.
He’s insane. Like actually crazy. He said he’s ‘very disappointed’ that I didn’t go to the party with him last night and that I’m a ‘liar’ and ‘dirty manipulator’.
Who is this man?? Why is he so obsessed with me?
I texted Jessie asking if she could look at the guest list again and see if there was a ‘Simon’ on it. There wasn’t.
How did he even get in?? I mean it’s not like that security guard was doing too much. And how did he get my damn address?
I’m very scared right now.
Should I call the police? I don’t think they could do anything about it- it’s just a letter.
I think I’m just going to keep my door double locked tonight.
Maybe I’m overreacting. I don’t know.
Hopefully this nut job gets the hint.
Until next time,
Nina
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10/30
Dear Nina,
I apologize for my last letter. It was written out of anger and betrayal- I didn’t mean the words I said.
Please don’t be upset with me, Nina.
I would never do anything to hurt you- I love you too much.
I know we haven’t known each other for too long, but I truly do feel a strong, loving connection to you. I hope you feel the same way- and even if you don’t, I know you will eventually. You will see me for who I am, and fall in love with me, just like I did for you. We will meet again soon.
Yours,
Simon
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10/30
Dear Nina,
Did you read my last letter?
I see it’s still by your door. Please read it. I’m asking you very nicely.
Yes I’m being very kind to you and I’m not sure you deserve it.
Do not ignore me, Nina.
Yours,
Simon
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10/30
Dear Nina,
Open my god damn letters, Nina.
I’ve asked you nicely, now I’m getting upset.
I see them piled up outside your door- this is very rude.
How could you treat me this way?
I don’t want to have to hurt you, Nina.
Yours,
Simon
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10/30
Dear Nina,
My love, please disregard my last letter.
I let my anger get the best of me again.
I would just like you to make an effort to reciprocate our love. I would like to apologize in person. Meet me at the warehouse on West 24th Street tomorrow night at 11.
I can’t wait to see you, my love. Halloween is my favorite holiday.
Please come alone, I’d love your full, undivided attention.
Yours,
Simon
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10/31
Dear Diary,
I feel like I’m losing my mind.
Since yesterday, I’ve received four more letters from Simon, each one basically saying to disregard the last.
This man is insane, and it’s making me insane. He says he’s in love with me?
What the hell. He’s convinced that he’ll make me fall in love with him too.
I’m very frightened. I don’t know what to do.
He invited me to another party at the Warehouse on West 24th tonight. This is gonna sound crazy, but maybe I should go?
Just to confront him and tell him to screw off.
I mean, maybe he got the wrong idea from me when we first met, and I just need to set the record straight that I am not, in any way, interested.
Maybe then he’ll back off.
I was thinking of telling Jessie all of this, but I’m afraid she’ll tell me to get the police involved or something. I have to do this for myself.
I’m done shying away from things and people. I need to push myself, like I did the night of the party. I pushed myself to go, and I ended up being happy I went. This will be the same, I know it.
I’ll admit, my gut is telling me to stay in tonight, but it told me to stay in last time, and I ended up having a great time.
Like Jessie said, screw my gut.
I’ll meet Simon tonight at the party, I’ll tell him off, and this will all be over.
Until next time,
Nina
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11/1
The Hudson Times
BREAKING NEWS
NEW YORK — Police are investigating the suspicious death of a young woman in her early-20s. The body, now identified as Nina Burns, was found outside an old warehouse on West 24th Street.
Burn’s body was found near a dumpster with several stab wounds in her torso and lacerations on her neck. According to police, there was also some kind of letter in Burn’s possession found with her body.
Medics pronounced the woman dead at approximately 12:55 a.m., police said.
No arrests have been made in the case, but the investigation is still underway.
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