" I'm sor-"
"DON'T, JUST DON'T SAY IT. YOU DO NOT EVEN DESERVE TO SAY IT AFTER WHAT YOU HAVE DONE TO ME! I BEGGED YOU, SCREAMED AND PLEAD, BUT YOU DIDN'T HEED MY WORDS. THEN WHY SHOULD I!"
I yelled with tears streaming down my face when witnessing m...
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Amaira hadn't slept a moment since the note arrived, its haunting words echoing in her mind like a warning she couldn't shake. Her heart pounded each time she glanced toward it, sitting there on her dresser like a ghost waiting to be acknowledged. The weight of it had pressed down on her, suffocating her thoughts, clouding her judgment, yet she refused to let it break her. She had survived worse; she could survive this. She had to.
Sitting at her desk, she felt the world around her blur, everything moving in slow motion as her mind circled back to the note, over and over. She didn't hear the distant hum of the office, the chatter of her colleagues, or even Rafeeq calling her name. Minutes passed, and still, she sat there, trapped in the prison of her own thoughts.
"Amaira?"
The voice cut through like a blade, sharp and sudden. She jolted upright, her eyes wide as she realized Rafeeq had been trying to get her attention. Her breath hitched, her fingers gripping the edges of her desk.
"I... I'm sorry," she stammered, her voice barely steady. She couldn't let him see how rattled she was. Couldn't let anyone see. Her composure was all she had left, and it was hanging by a thread.
Rafeeq stepped closer, his usually stern expression softened by a frown of concern. "Amaira, is everything alright?" His voice, though gentle, made her feel exposed, like he could see right through her flimsy facade. She wanted to tell him, to let the fear pour out, but she couldn't. Not now. Not like this.
She shook her head quickly, forcing a smile. "I'm fine, just... a bit tired, that's all." Her voice was barely above a whisper, but she hoped it was enough to stop him from asking more.
Rafeeq didn't seem convinced, but he sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Alright, come to my cabin when you're ready," he said, his tone still carrying that note of worry. He turned and walked away, leaving her alone with the storm still raging inside her.
'That's it, today I will submit the horrifying letter to the police and let them decide and ask for protection. Yes, I will do just that,' Amaira thought. She got up and knocked on Rafeeq's cabin door, walking inside after hearing his usual, "Come in."
He was seated behind his large mahogany desk, his fingers drumming lightly on the surface as she entered. "I wanted to give you this," Rafeeq said, sliding a sleek, black envelope toward her. "It's an invitation to a business party I've been invited to next week. I'd like you to join me... and Amina." He paused, his eyes scanning her face for a reaction. "You know how Amina gets... she'll kill me if you don't come."
Amaira smiled weakly at the dramatic image. "I don't like parties, Rafeeq," she said with a slight chuckle. "You know that."
Rafeeq grinned, but his eyes remained serious. "Come on, Amaira. You know I'm hopeless without you. Besides, Amina really wants you there. And if you don't, she'll definitely find a way to make my life miserable."
