Thank you, for listening

Chapter 25 : Crossroads

Lucy sat on her bed, the silence in the apartment pressing down on her like a weight. The events of the past few days swirled in her mind, a chaotic storm of emotions that left her feeling more lost than ever. She needed Tim, needed to hear his voice and feel the warmth of his support. But each time she tried to call, she was met with the reality that he had blocked her number.

It hurt more than she could express. How could it have come to this? She picked up her phone, staring at the screen as if it could somehow change the past. Each attempted dial felt like a reminder of her helplessness. It was maddening; she needed comfort, someone to hold her while she processed what had happened with Jake. Instead, she felt like she was being swallowed by darkness.

Suddenly, she heard a knock on the door, and before she could even react, Jake walked in. He had let himself in, an unsettling familiarity about him that sent a shiver down her spine.

"Hey, I thought we could hang out," he said, his smile wide and uninvited. "I know you've been busy with your family and all, but I wanted to see you."

Lucy's heart sank, dread pooling in her stomach. "I—uh, I'm not really in the mood, Jake."

"Nonsense," he insisted, stepping inside and closing the door behind him. "I think you just need a little company." He took a step closer, and she instinctively backed away until her back hit the wall.

"Jake, please," she said, her voice shaky as she tried to maintain her composure. "I really don't want to do this."

"Do what?" he asked innocently, though his eyes glinted with a predatory hunger that made her stomach churn. "We're going to have a great time, trust me."

Before she could protest further, he reached out, grasping her wrist and pulling her toward the bedroom. She stumbled, her heart racing as panic set in. "Jake, stop!" she cried, but her words fell on deaf ears.

As he dragged her down the hall, she felt a mix of fear and anger. She wanted to fight back, to scream for help, but the reality of her situation settled in. She felt trapped, with nowhere to turn.

Across town, Tim sat in the break room during his lunch break, a sandwich in one hand and his phone in the other. He had tried to focus on the day's cases, the routine of his job, but his mind kept drifting back to Lucy. A few minutes of silence, and the urge to check his phone became overwhelming.

With a deep breath, he opened his messages and saw it: a missed call from Lucy. His heart skipped, a jolt of hope coursing through him. Perhaps she needed him, after all. Just as he reached to dial back, his partner Angela stepped into the break room, her brow furrowed.

"Don't," she said, crossing her arms as she leaned against the counter. "You really shouldn't care about her anymore, Tim. She made her choice."

"But I think something's wrong," he insisted, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "I can't just ignore that."

"Yeah? Well, maybe you should," she replied, an edge creeping into her voice. "You think it's healthy to keep chasing after someone who's just going to hurt you?"

"Angela, it's not like that," he countered, shaking his head. "I know Lucy. I've seen how she is when she's upset. It's not just jealousy; I can feel it. I just... I can't shake the feeling that something's off."

Angela sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Look, you might want to think about what you're really feeling. She's with another guy now. What do you think will happen? You'll be stuck pining for someone who's busy kissing someone else."

The words hit him hard, and he felt a wave of nausea rise in his throat. He hadn't considered it fully—Lucy with someone else, laughing, sharing intimate moments that he could only dream of. The jealousy surged inside him, and he clenched his fists, staring at the floor. "I just don't believe she wanted it to end like this."

Angela softened slightly, her expression shifting to something more empathetic. "I get it. But if she's chosen him... maybe it's time you choose yourself."

Tim took a moment, letting her words sink in. He felt the weight of her advice, the gravity of what it would mean to let her go, and the idea of moving on seemed impossible. He felt like he was losing the best part of himself.

"Just think about it, okay?" Angela urged, before walking away.

Left alone with his thoughts, Tim found himself spiraling. He couldn't shake the image of Lucy in another man's arms. That closeness, that warmth—he ached to reclaim it, to fight for her. But the lingering doubt gnawed at him: what if it was too late? What if Lucy was already lost to him?

Back in Lucy's apartment, she struggled against Jake, panic rising within her as he pushed her into the bedroom. "You don't have to fight this," he said, his voice low and insistent. "Just relax. We can have a good time together."

"Get off me!" she shouted, pushing against him, but he only tightened his grip. He pinned her against the wall, his breath hot against her cheek.

"Come on, Lucy," he murmured, leaning in closer, the heat of his body radiating against her skin. "Don't make this harder than it needs to be."

Lucy could feel the tears prickling at the corners of her eyes. "I don't want this, Jake!" she cried, her heart pounding in her chest.

He paused, his expression darkening. "You don't really know what you want," he said, his voice laced with irritation. "But you will."

Suddenly, she felt a rush of adrenaline. She pushed him away with all her might, and for a brief moment, she caught a glimpse of freedom. But Jake regained his composure quickly, stepping forward and trapping her once more.

"Stop fighting me!" he snapped, shoving her backward until her back hit the bed. She fell onto the mattress, scrambling to get away, her heart racing as she felt her body tense.

"No! Get away from me!" Lucy shouted, her voice echoing in the quiet apartment.

Jake glared at her, anger flashing in his eyes. "You really need to learn your place."

She scrambled back on the bed, tears spilling down her cheeks as she realized she had nowhere to go. She felt trapped, cornered by the very man her parents had chosen for her. Her mind raced, calling out silently for Tim, wishing desperately that he could somehow save her.

As Jake advanced, she shouted, "Tim! Help me!" The name escaped her lips like a prayer, a desperate hope that somehow, he could hear her, could come to her rescue.

But all she was left with was silence, Jake's expression hardening as he loomed over her, his intentions clear.

Meanwhile, Tim sat in his truck, staring blankly at the road ahead. The thought of Lucy in distress pierced through him like a dagger. He felt torn between his emotions and the reality of their situation. His heart raced as he thought of her calling him, of how she might need him now more than ever.

He couldn't shake the sense of urgency building within him. Ignoring Angela's warnings, he picked up his phone and scrolled through the missed calls, hesitating for a moment before dialing her number.

But all he heard was the cold, hard reality: the call wouldn't go through.

"Damn it," he muttered, slamming his palm against the steering wheel.

He felt helpless, stuck in a web of emotions he couldn't control. But there was one thing he knew: he couldn't abandon her. No matter how hard it felt, he had to be there for Lucy.

His mind was made up. He wouldn't let her go without a fight.