i found you

call me

she had no way of knowing who this woman was, what she really looked like, or even what her first name is.

-

a lot had happened in two months. katya sat through countless therapy sessions and cried endless tears. she wasn't fully healed, mentally or physically. she still had small, faded bruises and her mental scars will never go away. it took her two months to return back to that office building. even the thought of the building made her break down in tears, but today, she was ready. the only reason she was returning was to find the woman who saved her. she hoped she still worked here. she sat in the back of the uber, anxiously fidgeting with her thumbs. she was visibly shaking.

the uber pulled up to the front of the building and katya's breath hitched. she looked up and observed her surroundings and she hated everything she saw. it seemed dark and eerie. she looked at the people walking up and down the sidewalk. not one of them knew what had happened to her inside that building two months ago.

"we're here, ma'am." the driver said, snapping katya out of her trance.

katya stepped out of the car and shut the door without speaking a word. she looked behind her as the rude driver sped away. she took a deep breath and walked up the stairs to the door. she opened the door and was met with a rush of hot air from the heater.

"hi, i'm sorry, can i help you?" an employee asked katya.

"i hope so, i'm kinda looking for someone." katya said. she realized how creepy she must've sounded. the young employee looked at her with a suspicious look on his face.

"ma'am, i think you need to leave."

"no, please.. it's very important." katya said quietly as she stepped closer to him.

"wait, are you katya..?" the man asked.

katya felt her eyes swell up with tears. she hated that people in this building knew who she was from one traumatic incident that happened. she blinked away the tears and continued the conversation.

"yeah, i'm katya and i need to know if someone i met still works here." katya said. the young man looked around to see if anyone was watching.

"come with me."

he turned around and katya quickly followed. they walked into a lounge area in the office and the employee closed the door. katya's anxiety shot through the roof.

"can you um, maybe, crack the door open a little." katya said.

"of course." he said as he opened the door a little.

"i brought you in here because the information in this building is severely confidential and i could get fired for even speaking to someone who doesn't work here."

"all i need is her name." katya pleaded. he thought about it for a few seconds before giving in.

"what do you know about her?"

" i don't really remember a lot, but she's tall, probably around 5'11, blonde hair, big eyeliner i think.."

"trixie."

"who?"

"trixie mattel. one of our most respected workers. she's been with us for about eight years. i'll tell her someone is here to see her." he said.

he quickly exited the room, being mindful to keep the door cracked. katya sat down in a comfy chair in the corner and irritably waited for someone to walk in.

"i really don't know what you're doing, chris. who would be here to see me?" a voice said as it got closer to the room.

katya recognized the voice and her heart started beating so fast it felt as if it would burst. a woman walked through the door and katya couldn't pick her head up to look. she played with her fingers as she sensed the girl looking at her.

"katya..?" the sweet voice said.

katya finally looked up and saw her, her savior, trixie mattel. she put her head back down because she felt the tears coming back again. she hated being so emotional. trixie walked over and sat in another chair next to katya.

"hi.." trixie said quietly, hoping to spark conversation and loosen the tension.

"hi, uh, i know this is really weird that i'm at your job, but i just wanted to see you." katya said.

"can i grab your hand?" trixie asked. katya slowly nodded her head yes. trixie grabbed katya's hand and held it, rubbing her thumb over the back of it to calm her down.

"it's not weird. i've thought about you everyday for two months. i was waiting until you found a way to contact me or see me. we know absolutely nothing about each other, but i knew you'd be here one day." trixie said with a slight smile. katya's tears had slowed, but there was still a wet residue on her cheeks. she turned her head and looked at trixie.

"i've thought about you too. i'm still very scared to even be in this building, but like i said, i wanted to see you." katya said.

"i'm glad you came, but i have to get back to work. can i see your phone?"

katya grabbed her phone from her back pocket and handed it to trixie. she typed her number in before standing up and handing the phone back.

"call me." trixie smiled.

katya smiled back as trixie walked away, their hands still connected. their hands disconnected and katya felt that sense of loneliness again, but also relief because she had her number now. she walked out of the building, a new sense of happiness that she hasn't felt in so long. she hopped in another uber and smiled all the way home, a feeling she hoped wouldn't go away anytime soon.