Shadows of deceit

12.

A week had passed since the heated confrontation between Poppy and Branch, and the tension between them hung palpably in the air. They moved like shadows around each other in the corridors of the office, not exchanging a single word.

Creek, observing their strained interactions, felt a surge of triumph. He couldn't pinpoint what had caused their rift, but he was relieved that Branch seemed to have withdrawn from Poppy's life. He savored the prospect of having her undivided attention once more, free from Branch's interference. However, despite Creek's satisfaction, he couldn't ignore the change in Poppy's demeanor at home.

Night after night, Poppy remained distant and withdrawn, her thoughts seemingly elsewhere. Her detachment began to unsettle Creek, prompting him to spend more time away from home under the guise of work commitments. What troubled Poppy most, though, were the haunting words from her argument with Branch.

Sitting at her desk in her office, Poppy sighed heavily, her fingers tracing the worn edges of her journal. She remembered Smidge asking her a similar question about feeling safe before Branch had intervened. The repetition of this question gnawed at her, stirring doubts that she had brushed aside before.

With a determined exhale, Poppy opened the journal, its pages filled with her innermost thoughts and emotions spanning years. As she read through the entries, a pattern began to emerge—subtle hints of dissatisfaction, moments of unease, and mentions of incidents she had rationalized or dismissed. Now, these entries took on a new significance in light of recent events.

She flipped through more pages, each one revealing moments she had brushed aside or minimized. There was a chilling entry about Creek's reaction when she had disagreed with him in front of their friends, how he had subtly undermined her opinions until she relented, smiling through gritted teeth to maintain appearances. Another page detailed a weekend trip where Creek had criticized her choice of clothing, insisting she change into something more "appropriate" before they left the house.

Further into the journal, she found a heartbreaking entry where she had confided her dreams and ambitions to Creek, only to be met with indifference or outright dismissal. His remarks had always carried a hint of derision, subtly steering her away from pursuits he deemed frivolous or impractical.

As she read on, Branch's words echoed in her mind. "I couldn't sit by, after seeing everything and hearing everything... I know you're not safe there, Poppy."

a sinking realization settled in—that these incidents were not isolated. They formed a pattern of control and manipulation that she had been conditioned to accept as normal. The journal became a mirror reflecting years of subtle coercion and emotional isolation masked under the guise of concern.

Poppy closed her eyes, taking a moment to absorb the weight of her discoveries. She had always believed she was in control of her own life, but now she saw how insidiously Creek had woven himself into the fabric of her decisions, eroding her confidence and independence bit by bit.

With a shaky breath, she reopened her eyes and reached for her phone once more. This time, she didn't hesitate. She dialed Branch's number, her heart pounding with a mix of apprehension and determination. It was time to face the truth and take the first step toward reclaiming her life.

---

Branch sat at home, the heaviness of regret settling in his chest like a lead weight. The events of the past week replayed in his mind like a relentless loop. He had confided in John about what had transpired with Poppy, hoping for some guidance or reassurance, but instead, John had decided to drop the investigation altogether, focusing back on his previous case. Branch felt a sinking feeling of failure; he had let Poppy down when she needed him the most.