Chains of the Cosmos

Like a Prayer

It was late Friday afternoon when Nora's phone buzzed with a text from Hap. She glanced at it while she was wrapping up some last-minute work, a hint of trepidation curling in her stomach.

Hap: "Hey, I've got a surprise planned for the weekend. Can you come home right after work? Or if you can leave a bit early, that would be even better."

Nora stared at the message for a beat, her mind already flashing back to the many "surprises" he had planned in the past—none of which had ended well for her. She quickly typed out her response, her tone sharp with just a hint of sarcasm.

Nora: "The last time you surprised me with something, I got locked in a glass pod for 3 years. What is the surprise this time?"

She hit send, her finger hovering over the screen for a moment, waiting for his reply. The last "surprise" had been a nightmare—trapped, isolated, and controlled. She couldn't shake the feeling that this one would be no different, even though part of her wanted to hope that things had truly changed.

A few minutes passed before Hap replied, and when he did, his tone was casual, almost too much so.

Hap: "It's nothing like that, Nora. I promise. Just trust me, alright? I'm trying to do something nice for us, something to relax. You've earned it."

Nora read the message again. Despite his reassurance, she couldn't ignore the knot tightening in her chest. Earned it? Was she really even allowed to enjoy anything after everything that had happened between them?

She pushed the thoughts aside, focusing instead on the decision at hand. She could leave early—just an hour, maybe less—but would that even be a good idea? What if the "surprise" was another attempt to manipulate or control her?

Another text from Hap came through before she could decide.

Hap: "I'll be waiting, okay? Just relax. We'll have a great weekend."

Nora set her phone down, the uncertainty still lingering. Maybe she was just overthinking it. She didn't want to be constantly suspicious, but the fear of falling back into old patterns kept her on edge. It was hard to trust him again, even after he seemed to be trying so hard.

With a sigh, she stood up, grabbing her things. What's the worst that could happen? she thought. Still, her mind didn't quite ease, and as she left the office, she couldn't shake the nagging feeling that this weekend could be another test of their fragile balance.

Nora pulled into the driveway, the familiar, yet unsettling sensation of being at home mixing with the uncertainty that lingered from her earlier exchange with Hap. She parked her car in the garage, plugged it in, and got out, trying to push away the growing tension that had begun to knot in her stomach.

When she walked inside, she was immediately met with the sight of two bags packed and neatly placed by the door. Hap was standing beside them, an eager look on his face. There was a palpable excitement about him, a level of energy that made Nora's stomach churn, even though she couldn't quite place why.

"We're going to the weekend house," he said, his voice bright with enthusiasm. "It's up the coast a bit in the redwood forest. It's going to be so beautiful. I've packed everything—our bags, food for the weekend. All you have to do is get in the car, my darling."

Nora blinked, her confusion turning into skepticism as her thoughts quickly raced to the familiar pattern of manipulation she'd learned to watch out for. "You didn't find out that this Hap has a secret lab in the redwood forest, did you?" she asked, her voice tight with underlying suspicion. "Are you trying to get me back in a cell?"