'How strange…,' thought Sheila as she leaned back further in her seat.
Despite not having done much today, she felt exhausted.
This bothered her a little at first, but she soon recalled the comments her coworkers made about their trips.
Fun…
Action…
But above all…
Exhaustion.
Sheila had almost never paid much attention to those comments, but now she understood, at least, two of them.
'I should have tried traveling before…,' thought Sheila as she remembered Blortus's face.
He was a strange man, but he had helped her.
"We're here," said the driver, snapping her out of her thoughts.
As Sheila looked out the window, she saw many luxurious cars parked in front of the hotel.
'I think I went overboard…,' thought Sheila as she opened the door to get out of the car.
Certainly, Sheila was confident she could afford this, but she had never thought she would do so just to fix things with her family.
'Well, it's too late to regret it now.'
Before Sheila reached the trunk, the driver was already there and had unloaded her luggage.
'How quick,' Sheila thought, surprised.
"I hope you have a pleasant stay," the driver said politely.
"Thank you," Sheila replied as she checked her purse to pay for the taxi, but before she realized it, the driver started the car and left.
'Oh, right… Blortus paid for it,' Sheila remembered his gesture, but…
She didn't have his number!
If he had asked for her number, they could at least be friends and…
'Let's not think about that anymore…,' Sheila repeated to herself several times to get that matter out of her head.
She had to concentrate.
She had traveled to this country for a reason.
To clear things up with her family.
Nothing else.
Carrying her luggage, Sheila walked toward the reception.
The automatic doors opened with a soft hum, revealing a luxurious lobby adorned with marble and glass.
The staff, seeing Sheila loaded with luggage, offered to help carry her suitcase, but she shook her head.
Speaking with the receptionist, Sheila requested a room and asked if there was a restaurant within the hotel while she paid.
If so, she wouldn't have to go out later for dinner or breakfast in case her stay extended in this country.
"Of course! If you want, after we take your things, we can guide you there," the receptionist explained, his voice filled with professionalism and warmth.
Seeing the insistence of the staff wanting to carry her suitcase, Sheila decided to oblige.
"I understand, but I won't go now. It will be later," Sheila replied with a smile as she put her card back in her purse.
Accompanied by a staff member, she took the elevator up to her room.
The elevator doors opened with a soft ding, revealing a warmly carpeted hallway leading to her room.
When she opened the door to her room, Sheila found an elegantly decorated space.
Dark blue velvet curtains hung heavily from the windows, and the soft carpet under her feet muffled any sound.
The staff member entered with her suitcase, placing it carefully near the wardrobe.
"If you need anything else, please do not hesitate to call us," he said with a kind smile before leaving, closing the door softly behind him.
Sheila let out a deep sigh, feeling the weight of the day finally catching up with her.
The four-hour flight, along with the brief meeting she had, had left her exhausted.
She walked slowly to the bed, slipping onto the crisp white sheets.
The mattress was soft and welcoming, as if inviting her to sink into a cotton embrace.
Sheila lay down, allowing her body to relax completely.
Her muscles, tense from the trip, began to loosen little by little.
Before settling in entirely, she got up to close the curtains, blocking out the light from outside and creating a pleasant, tranquil dimness.
The room was silent, interrupted only by the faint hum of the air conditioning.
Sheila took off her shoes, letting them fall haphazardly beside the bed, and slid between the sheets, enjoying the cool fabric against her skin.
She placed her purse, which she had been carrying on her shoulder the whole time, on the bedside table, relieving the last weight that burdened her.
'I'll rest a bit before calling…,' she thought as her mind began to disconnect.
With one last sigh, Sheila closed her eyes and let the exhaustion pull her into a deep sleep.
As her breathing gradually slowed, Sheila was unaware of all the notifications her phone was receiving because she had put it on silent mode.