Silent Ties

A Guiding Voice

The days that followed Angel's decision to step away from the music industry's offers were filled with a sense of unease. Despite the quiet that had returned to her life, something had shifted in the world around her. She began to notice the way people looked at her when she walked down the street—glances that lingered a little too long, whispers exchanged just out of earshot. At first, she tried to ignore it, telling herself it was nothing, but the feeling of being watched became impossible to shake.

One afternoon, as she strolled through her neighborhood, the unease turned into something more palpable. She noticed a group of people ahead, their phones pointed in her direction. She instinctively lowered her head, hoping to avoid their gaze, but as she walked past, she heard the unmistakable click of cameras and the murmurs that followed. Her heart began to race, and she quickened her pace, but it only seemed to encourage more attention. The more she tried to escape, the more the onlookers seemed determined to capture her distress.

By the time she reached her flat, Angel was shaken. The experience had left her feeling exposed and vulnerable, her sense of security shattered. The images and videos had already made their way online by the time she locked the door behind her, and the reality of her situation began to sink in. She wasn’t just a viral sensation anymore; she had become a figure of public fascination, her every move scrutinized and shared without her consent.

Angel found herself retreating even further from the outside world. She stopped going out unless absolutely necessary, afraid of what might happen if she encountered more people with cameras. She felt trapped, like a prisoner in her own life, and the isolation only deepened her anxiety. She didn’t know who to turn to or how to make it stop. The only thing she could think to do was pray.

For the first time in years, Angel knelt beside her bed and prayed to God, her heart heavy with desperation. She asked for guidance, for someone to help her navigate the overwhelming situation she found herself in. It was a simple prayer, but it was filled with all the emotion she had been holding back, all the fear and uncertainty that had been building inside her.

Three days passed, and Angel’s life remained much the same—quiet, isolated, and filled with a growing sense of dread. Then, on the third day, something unexpected happened. Her phone rang, the number displayed unknown. Normally, she would have ignored it, letting it go to voicemail like all the other unsolicited calls she had been receiving lately. But something inside her urged her to answer.

With a shaky breath, Angel picked up the phone and said, “Hello?”

A warm, familiar voice responded, “Hello, finally. Dear, I’ve been trying to contact you for three days. I almost got disappointed.”

Angel froze, her breath catching in her throat. She knew that voice. She would recognize it anywhere—it was the voice that had been with her through every high and low, the voice that had inspired her to sing, the voice of her idol. It was Adele.

“I’m sorry,” Angel stammered, trying to steady her nerves. “I wasn’t using social media for a month now. How can I help you, Miss Adkins?”

Adele chuckled softly on the other end of the line. “Oh, you know me. Of course you do, I’m so obvious.”

“No,” Angel replied, her voice trembling slightly, “it’s because I’ve listened to you a lot, so it’s natural to know your voice.”

There was a brief pause, and when Adele spoke again, her tone was gentle but serious. “Can we talk, Angel? I think you need some help. Don’t answer now—think properly. If you want to meet me, I’ll be at Angelo Studio at 9 a.m. tomorrow.”

Angel’s mind raced, disbelief washing over her. Was this really happening? Was Adele—the Adele—offering to meet with her, to help her? She could hardly believe it.

“Okay,” Angel managed to say, still in shock. “Thank you.”

“See you tomorrow,” Adele said, her voice warm and reassuring before the call ended.

As the line went dead, Angel sat in stunned silence, her heart pounding. She had prayed for guidance, for someone to help her, and now Adele, the one person she had always admired above all others, was reaching out to her. It felt like a miracle, an answer to her prayers.

The unease that had plagued Angel for days began to lift, replaced by a glimmer of hope. She didn’t know what tomorrow would bring, but she knew one thing for certain—she wasn’t alone anymore. And for the first time in a long while, she allowed herself to believe that everything might just be okay.