Bella was awakened by the rays of the sun piercing through the curtains of her room, gently striking her closed eyelids. She slowly opened her eyes, feeling the morning warmth caress her skin. Today, she had no classes. Yet, that didn't mean she would be able to return on Monday. The thought tightened her chest.
She sighed before getting up and heading to the bathroom for a warm bath, hoping to soothe the turmoil weighing on her mind. Once clean and refreshed, she got dressed and prepared a quick breakfast. But as she took the last bites, her gaze drifted over the objects around her.
She had to leave.
Without delay, she started thinking about how she could get rid of some of her belongings as quickly as possible. The lighter she traveled, the easier it would be to leave this place.
Meanwhile, in another city, a tense conversation was unfolding in an apartment filled with an uneasy atmosphere.
— Please, calm down, Aletha, Zetch tried to say in a steady voice. She's fine, I assure you, nothing has happened to her.
Facing him, a young woman with long black hair and piercing blue eyes paced back and forth nervously, her arms crossed over her chest. She didn't seem convinced.
— That's exactly what you told me last time, Zetch, and now I find out she's been attacked twice? she exclaimed, stopping abruptly to glare at him.
— I… Zetch sighed, running a hand through his hair. Look, she hadn't told me before… And besides, everything happened after I visited her.
Aletha let out a long sigh before sinking onto the couch, her gaze clouded with worry.
— I'm afraid something will happen to her… she murmured.
Zetch knelt in front of her and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
— Everything will be fine, he said with conviction. She's handling a few things before joining us here.
Aletha slightly lifted her head, a glimmer of hope in her eyes.
— Are you sure?
— Yes. She even asked for our contact information so she could find us.
A timid smile formed on Aletha's face.
— In that case… I'll prepare something for her when she arrives! It'll make her feel better, and she loves my cooking, she declared, suddenly springing up with renewed energy before disappearing into the kitchen.
Zetch watched her go, an amused smile on his lips, before his expression turned serious again. Bella really needed to be careful…
Meanwhile, Bella had just finished speaking with her landlady.
— You're leaving so suddenly? the woman asked, raising an eyebrow. Did something happen?
Bella offered her a sheepish smile and improvised an excuse.
— Let's just say I have an opportunity elsewhere… I wanted to thank you for everything.
The landlady observed her for a moment, as if debating whether to ask more questions, but eventually, she simply nodded.
— I understand. Good luck with everything, Bella.
— Thank you.
Bella stepped out of the office and closed the door behind her. But as she descended the stairs, her heart tightened. The hardest part still remained: saying goodbye to her coworkers and her school friends.
Just thinking about it made a lump form in her throat.
And then, there was Caden…
His image resurfaced in her mind, and a sharp pain pierced her chest, forcing tears to her eyes, which she wiped away with the back of her hand.
I'm making the right decision, she repeated to herself, trying to be convinced. I'm doing this to protect him, too.
But then why did it feel like her heart was breaking?