Dear Destiny

15- Dear Confessor

*ARIV*

I sprinted out of the hall, my heart pounding faster than my feet could carry me. I turned left, then right, racing up and down every corridor, searching every corner, every inch of space, but she was nowhere to be found.

My God, Reet, where are you? My mind screamed as desperation clawed at me. Why are you doing this to me reet? Come back, please.

I roamed the grounds aimlessly, clinging to the faint hope that I would catch a glimpse of her-those brown almond eyes, her small, delicate frame, that captivating beauty. But regret was pulling me under, deeper with every passing second as her absence weighed heavier.

I traced my steps back to the hotel. "Reet! Where are you, my dear Earth?" I yelled into the empty silence, hoping for a response. Nothing. Only the echo of my own voice. The night was closing in, darker and darker, the stillness unsettling. She must be terrified of this place, this quiet-she was always so soft, so delicate. My heart twisted painfully at the thought.

Finally, I reached the hotel, but her room was vacant. I checked again, frantically searching, but there was no sign of her anywhere. "Reet!" I shouted as reached to the garden, my voice breaking. "Please, don't do this to me. Come back." I called into the night, my voice hoarse from shouting, until I heard it-a soft sob, faint but unmistakable.

I turned toward the sound, and relief flooded me. There she was, sitting on the tree just outside her balcony. The balcony, I realized, kicking myself for not checking it earlier.

She sat there, lost in her sorrow, her cheeks flushed red, her eyes swollen from tears I knew were because of me.

"Reet", I called softly, trying to steady my voice. "Please, come down."

She didn't look at me. Her gaze remained fixed downward, distant, her expression blank and heartbroken.

"Reet, I'm so sorry", I pleaded, my voice cracking. "I really am."

I took a shaky breath." If you want to punish me, go ahead. Slap me, kick me, hurt me-do whatever you want, but please... don't ignore me like this." My voice broke, and I could feel the tears threatening to spill over. But she remained silent, my words disappearing into the cold air around us.

"Reet", I begged, my heart aching. "Please, come down. I'm begging you."

"But how am I supposed to come down?!" she finally yelled, her eyes still brimming with tears, frustration clear in her voice.

But her sudden question made me take aback in confusion.

"The same way you got up!" I shouted back, trying to stay calm.

"I didn't jump up here!" she wailed, and suddenly broke down in tears, her sobs making my heart sink.

"Shhh, shhh, don't cry! What happened? Just tell me," I said, helplessly watching her wipe her eyes.

She sniffled, then screamed down at me, "I didn't jump up here-it was an accident! I somehow ended up here by mistake!"

I blinked twice, staring at her in shock, trying to process what she just said. Wait... was she serious? How does someone accidentally end up stuck in a tree thats 20 feet tall? You fall down by mistake, sure-but jump up? What kind of superhero logic was this?

"What are you doing by just standing there? Help me to get out of this!" she cried out, still sniffling.

"Oh, right! Don't cry, I'll get help-hang in there-" I said calming her as I hurried to leave for help.

"No!" she cut me off with a scream. "I can't wait! I've been holding it for hours!"

My eyebrow furrowed in confusion. "Holding what for hours?"