The One

Just to inform you

 The next day, she awoke, emerging from the shrouded shadows of the nightmare that had haunted her. She stepped into the shower, the hot water cascading over her, cleansing not just her skin but the remnants of yesterday's despair. With every scrub and lather, she purged the grime of her worries, feeling renewed as she finally stepped out, ready to meet the day.

As she exited her room, Brian greeted her with a warm smile. "Your breakfast is ready," he announced, presenting a plate of neatly stacked pancakes beside a steaming cup of coffee before taking his seat opposite her.

"Thank you, Brian, but really, there's no need for this. It's outside your duties," she replied, settling down and diving into the delicious meal, her appetite surprising even herself.

"I know it's not, but I want to do it. Consider this a small gesture of gratitude for your kindness," he said, his eyes gleaming with sincerity.

After breakfast, they lounged in the living room, each absorbed in their work.

"Karol, your phone is ringing. You've been getting messages from the same person. Do you want me to answer it for you?" he asked, extending her phone.

"There's no need for that. Just toss that number away. But wait, on second thoughts, give me that!" she said, snatching the phone. "Could you go out and get me a new number?"

"Of course! I'll head out now. Want anything while I'm out?" he asked, sliding into his jacket.

"No thank you, just hurry back and be safe," she replied, her mind racing. As he left the apartment, she glanced at the barrage of texts but ignored them, urgency driving her to call her parents.

"Hello?"

Her voice cracked, struggling to remain steady. "Mummy," she called, the word laced with an impending emotional storm.

Instantly, Anna sensed the distress. "Karol, baby, what's wrong?" she asked, her voice alert, while William's concerned tones echoed in the background.

Karol cleared her throat, fighting back the tears. "Mummy, are you...?"

"At the mansion, why, baby girl?"

"Please, go to Grandpa's house and bring Daddy with you," she said, desperation seeping into her tone.

"Okay, baby girl, we're on our way," Anna replied, dragging William with her. From the other end of the line, she could hear her father's bewildered concern.

"Hey, hey. What's going on? Where are we going? Why the rush?"

"Just walk, our baby girl wants to talk to us," Anna urged, her voice steadying as she locked the front door behind them.

"Okay, baby girl, we're in the house. Now, tell us what's wrong," Anna said once they settled.

"Please, head over to your room," she instructed, her heart racing.

"Alright, give us a minute," they replied, their footsteps echoing in the hallway.

"We're in the room now. What's going on?"

"I'm telling you this because I promised to share everything, but please, don't get mad. Promise me," she implored.

Anna's brow furrowed. "You need to tell us first what it is."

"I'm going incognito," she said, dropping the bombshell.

"Why?"

"I'll explain everything when we meet face-to-face, but for now, I'm changing my number. Don't worry; I'll give you the new one."

"Okay, baby, but why? What happened to make you want to disappear?"

"Is this about Christian?" Anna guessed, hitting the mark.

"Yes, it is because of him," she confessed, covering her mouth in a futile attempt to stifle her cracked voice. She continued, almost begging for her parents' support in this bleak moment. "But please, don't go after him. I promise I'll explain everything as soon as I can, but if he calls or messages you or even seeks out Daddy, please tell him you don't know where I am. Tell him I vanished into thin air."

"We will. Baby girl, are you aright?" William asked an edge of worry in his voice.

"Honestly, Daddy, I'm not aright at all. I feel so foolish, questioning my very existence, but I believe everything happens for a reason. I'll leave it to fate's hand."

Anna's protectiveness flared up once more. "Where are you now? We'll come to you right away!" She clung to William, seeking comfort as he wrapped his arms around her.

"I'm okay, Mummy, Daddy. Don't worry about me. You don't need to come; I'll be moving again tomorrow, but I promise to keep you updated," she reassured them.

"Baby girl, we know you will, but you need someone by your side. You shouldn't be alone," William replied gently.

"Don't worry, Daddy. I'm not alone. I'm with my subordinate, and he's a good lad," she assured him.

"Okay, baby girl. Remember, we're always here for you. If you call, we'll come to you without hesitation. You're never alone," Anna said, her voice laced with maternal warmth.

"Okay, Mummy, I'll keep that in mind," she whispered before her tears broke free. "I've got to go now, Mummy, Daddy. I'll talk to you later. I love you both."

She abruptly hung up, overwhelmed, and let her grief spill forth, crying hard. Just then, Brian returned and pulled her into a comforting embrace, rubbing her back in gentle circles.

That simple gesture broke the dam within her. She cried and cried, pouring out the depths of her anguish until exhaustion claimed her, dragging her into a merciful slumber.

"I'm here, Karol. Please, don't be sad," he whispered, his voice laced with an aching tenderness as he cradled her into her room, tucking her in like a delicate secret.

Hours later, she stirred from a restless sleep, nausea coiling in her stomach. Dragging herself to the living room, she plopped down beside Brian, her voice a whisper, "Sorry, I fell asleep."

"No worries. You needed it," he replied gently. "I've changed your number already and let your family know."

"Thank you, Brian, for everything," she murmured, grateful yet weary.

He leaned closer, a glimmer of determination in his eyes.

"Next week, we'll set out for a new place. Each week, we'll keep moving until it feels safe in one location."

"Okay," he answered with a fierce resolve. "I'll follow you to the ends of the earth."

The day slipped by, cocooned in a mundane rhythm of work as she endeavoured to drown out the chaos that had clouded her mind.