The morning after their harrowing encounter in the garden, Anya woke with a jolt, the events of the previous night replaying vividly in her mind. The creature, the guardian's chilling words, the lingering scent of night-blooming jasmine that seemed to cling to her clothes – it all felt unreal, like a fever dream.
She glanced at the clock on her bedside table. 7:00 AM. Time to face reality. Reality, in this case, meant a mountain of legal briefs awaiting her attention at the law firm.
As she showered and dressed, her mind kept returning to the garden. Who was the guardian? What did she mean by "You are the one"? Anya felt a shiver crawl down her spine. The whole experience had left her unsettled, a strange sense of unease lingering beneath the surface.
Later that day, while reviewing a particularly dense contract, Anya found herself drawn to Ethan. He had been surprisingly quiet during their drive back, lost in thought. Curiosity piqued, she decided to try and learn more about him.
"Ethan," she began casually, "you mentioned you had a family. What does your father do?"
Ethan paused, a fleeting expression of something akin to surprise crossing his face. "He... he's retired now. Used to be in construction."
Anya sensed a slight hesitation in his answer, a subtle shift in his demeanor. "And your mother?" she pressed gently.
"She... she passed away a few years ago," Ethan replied, his voice softening.
Anya felt a pang of guilt. "I'm so sorry, Ethan. I didn't mean to..."
"It's alright," he said, forcing a smile. "It was a long time ago."
Anya sensed a wall going up, a subtle shift in his demeanor. She decided to drop the subject, the conversation turning to more innocuous topics.
Later that evening, as she reviewed the day's events, a nagging doubt lingered. Ethan's answer had felt... off. Too rehearsed, too guarded. Was he hiding something?
Anya dismissed the thought as paranoia. It was probably just the lingering effects of the night's events. Still, the question lingered in her mind. Who was Ethan really?
The following day at the office, Anya found herself caught up in the usual whirlwind of deadlines and client meetings. However, the memory of the garden and the enigmatic guardian continued to haunt her.
During her lunch break, she decided to take a walk to clear her head. As she strolled through the park, she found herself lost in thought, replaying the events of the previous night. The creature, the guardian's chilling words, the sudden darkness that had enveloped them... it all felt surreal, like a scene from a dream.
She returned to the office feeling a little more grounded, but the unsettling feeling lingered. The garden, with its enigmatic guardian and its hidden powers, continued to hold her captive.
As the day drew to a close, Anya was leaving the office when she was stopped by Sarah, a nurse from the hospital where Liam worked.
"Anya," Sarah said, her voice sharp, "I need to talk to you."
Anya felt a jolt of surprise. She hadn't seen Sarah since the incident in the garden. "About what?" she asked cautiously.
Sarah looked around nervously. "About Liam," she said, her voice dropping to a whisper. "You need to stay away from him."
Anya felt a surge of confusion. "Stay away from him? Why?"
Sarah looked at her with a mixture of pity and disdain. "Because he's still obsessed with you. He's not over you, Anya. And I won't let you hurt him again."
Anya felt a wave of disbelief wash over her. "I'm not interested in Liam," she said firmly. "And I don't appreciate your assumptions."
Sarah scoffed. "Oh please, Anya. Don't play innocent. You know you still have feelings for him."
Anya felt a surge of anger. "I don't have feelings for him, Sarah. And frankly, it's none of your business."
Sarah glared at her. "Just stay away from him, Anya. For both your sakes."
With that, Sarah turned and walked away, leaving Anya standing there, speechless.
Anya felt a strange mix of emotions – anger, confusion, and a touch of hurt. Sarah's words had stung, but Anya knew there was some truth to her accusations. She still remembered the way Liam had looked at her in the garden, the flicker of something in his eyes that she couldn't quite decipher.
As she walked down the street, Anya couldn't shake off the feeling that she was caught in the middle of something she didn't understand.