In the Blink of an Eye

Chapter Two

December 11, 2024

Taylor stirred awake, her head throbbing slightly. She stretched her arms and let out a big yawn. As her eyes adjusted, she took in her surroundings and realized she was in a bedroom she didn't recognize.

A wave of panic hit her when she noticed the figure sleeping next to her. That wasn't Joe. The guy had his face buried in the pillows, but she could make out his toned body and tousled brown hair.

She blinked rapidly, convincing herself this had to be some bizarre dream. It was the only explanation that made sense.

Her heart raced as she pinched her arm, trying to wake up from what felt like a nightmare. The last thing she remembered was falling asleep next to Joe at home.

Without making a sound, she kicked the covers off and hurried to the bathroom, closing and locking the door behind her.

The bathroom was just as unfamiliar as the bedroom. Was she losing her mind? She stared at her reflection, trying to steady her nerves.

She didn't look too different, she thought. Turning on the faucet, she splashes cold water on her face, wishing she could just wake up in Joe's arms. But when she looked in the mirror again, she felt a scream building up inside her.

Taylor took a deep breath, trying to calm the whirlwind of thoughts in her head. Her gaze flitted around the unfamiliar room, searching for clues about where she was and what had happened.

Then, her eyes landed on the necklace lying on the bathroom counter. It looked familiar—it was a birthday gift from her mom a few years back. She picked it up, turning it over in her hands.

After a moment, she set it down again, her mind racing. Nothing made sense. One minute she was falling asleep next to her lover, and the next, she found herself in a completely different place with someone she didn't recognize.

Taylor nearly jumped out of her skin when she heard a knock on the bathroom door. "Tay?" A man's voice called out, rough yet calm.

Her eyes went wide, and her heart raced. What was she supposed to do? She couldn't stay cooped up in there forever.

With shaky hands, she unlocked the door and stepped back, taking a deep breath as it swung open.

"Good morning," he greeted her with a smile, wrapping his arms around her waist, causing her to tense up. "Are you okay?" he asked, noticing her stiff posture. "Yeah," she managed to force a smile, glancing at the unfamiliar guy in the mirror.

"How about some breakfast?" he suggested, kissing her shoulder, but she remained rigid. "Yeah..." she replied, swallowing hard. "Breakfast sounds nice." He shot her a quick, concerned look before nodding and stepping out of the bathroom.

She let out a sigh of relief once she was alone. Who on earth was that? Maybe she was dreaming or stuck in some weird coma. She tried to piece together an explanation, but nothing made sense.