Catherine sat silently, watching as her coworker, Lily, prepared to leave for a date. Lily gathered her belongings, applied a bold red lipstick, and styled her hair, revealing her slender neck. Catherine felt a pang of longing, wondering why she couldn't experience the same carefree joy.
Lily noticed Catherine's gaze and asked, "How about you, Catherine? Why don't you ever go on dates?" Catherine hesitated, unsure of how to respond. She couldn't reveal the dark secret that had haunted her for so long – the curse that made it impossible for her to interact with men without suffering dire consequences.
Lily's words cut deep, highlighting Catherine's isolation. "You're almost twenty-six, and you're still so young. Don't you have a family to encourage you to get married?" Catherine felt a sting of sadness, knowing that she only had her sister, and that her life was already predetermined.
"I'm so excited,"changing the topic after noticing Catherine.Lily squealed, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. "A new CEO will be elected next week, and I just can't wait to see him. I hope he's handsome, charming, and has a wonderful personality." She turned to Catherine, a mischievous glint in her eye. "And who knows, maybe you'll fall in love with him, Catherine."
Catherine's response was immediate and emphatic. "No, no, no, no," she said, shaking her head vigorously. "I don't even want to think about it. I haven't seen him, and I already know I won't like him." She spoke with a conviction that bordered on desperation, as if she was trying to convince herself more than anyone else.
Lily raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Catherine's strong reaction. "Why not?" she asked, her curiosity piqued. "You don't even know what he's like. Maybe he's perfect for you."
Catherine's expression turned glacial, her eyes flashing with a warning. "I just know I won't like him," she repeated, her voice firm and final. The conversation was clearly closed, and Lily knew better than to push the issue further.
Lily, oblivious to Catherine's turmoil, continued to chat excitedly about the upcoming arrival of their new CEO. "I hope he's handsome!" she exclaimed. Catherine forced a polite smile, feeling like an outsider looking in on a world she could never truly be a part of.
Kissing her chance at happiness goodbye, Catherine watched as Lily left for her date, wondering what it would be like to experience love without fear of the consequences.
Catherine sat alone in the darkness, the only sound the soft hum of her laptop. The dim glow of the screen cast an eerie light on her face, illuminating her furrowed brow as she pondered the looming decision. Who should she vote for?
Her mind racing, she couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. She didn't want to vote for a man, fearing they would become the CEO and start exerting control over her. The thought sent shivers down her spine, and she couldn't help but wonder if she was being paranoid.
Just as she was starting to calm down, a faint creaking sound echoed from upstairs. Catherine's heart skipped a beat. She knew that area was off-limits to workers, and the sudden noise made her feel like she was being watched.
She tried to focus on her laptop, but her eyes kept drifting towards the stairs. The creaking grew louder, and she could sense someone approaching. Her hand trembled as she gripped her phone tightly, the screen casting an eerie glow on her face.
Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows. Catherine's breath caught in her throat as the person's eyes locked onto hers. They were wearing a mask, making it impossible to read their expression.
The figure grabbed her hand, their grip like a vice. Catherine felt a wave of pain wash over her, and she tried to struggle free. But the person held tight, their eyes glinting in the dim light.
"Why would I?" they hissed, their voice low and menacing.
Catherine begged for mercy, promising not to reveal their identity. She felt a cold sweat trickle down her spine as the person's grip tightened.
Just when she thought all was lost, the figure released her hand. Catherine stumbled backward, her heart racing. She turned to flee, but not before catching a glimpse of the person's mask glinting in the darkness.
She ran downstairs, her footsteps echoing through the empty corridors. She didn't stop until she burst through the doors, gasping for air. The bright sunlight was a welcome respite from the darkness she had left behind.
As she looked back at the building, she couldn't shake off the feeling that she was being watched. The memory of the masked figure lingered, casting a shadow over her thoughts.
Catherine couldn't shake off the memories of the terrifying encounter in the office. The image of the masked figure haunted her, and she couldn't escape the feeling of being watched.
As she rode in the taxi, she felt a sense of unease. The driver's eyes caught hers in the rearview mirror, and she felt a chill run down her spine. Suddenly, the driver spoke, his voice low and menacing: "Don't ever reveal my identity."
Catherine's heart skipped a beat. She begged the driver to stop the car, promising not to reveal his identity. The driver remained silent, his eyes fixed on the road ahead.
Catherine's fear turned to panic. She opened the door and ran out of the taxi, tears streaming down her face. She didn't stop until she reached her house, where her sister, tacha, was waiting.
tacha's concern was evident as she asked Catherine what was wrong. Catherine tried to brush it off, but tacha saw right through her. "You're not okay, Catherine. You're crying, and you ran into the house. What happened?"
Catherine felt a pang of guilt. She didn't want to burden her sister with her troubles, but Yemi's persistence wore her down. As they hugged, Catherine's tears fell onto tacha shoulder.
tacha's own tears began to fall as she sensed that Catherine was hiding something. "I'll never trust you again if you don't tell me what's wrong," tachabsaid, her voice trembling.
Catherine felt a surge of emotions. She didn't want to cause her sister more pain, but she couldn't keep the truth hidden forever. As they hugged, Catherine whispered, "I'm sorry,tacha. I'll tell you everything, but please don't cry."
tacha's tears slowed, and she looked up at Catherine with pleading eyes. "Is it because of that thing that happened? Why do I have to suffer with you? Let's just leave this earth together, so we can meet again someday."
Catherine's heart broke at her sister's words. She knew she had to find a way to protect tacha from the darkness that had consumed her life. But for now, all she could do was hold her sister close and whisper, "I'm sorry, tacha. I'm so sorry."