Unknown Boundaries || AU

Prologue

"You will never find anyone like me. I'll come back. You'll see. I'm not easy to get rid of."

I opened my eyes abruptly and quickly sat up from my couch trying to take deep breaths. I felt my chest tight so I picked up my laptop from my lap and set it next to me on the couch and sprinted across the living room to my bathroom.

I hurriedly opened the medicine cabinet and grabbed my asthma inhaler. I took two puffs in my mouth and swallowed the air. I set the inhaler back into its place and leaned both hands on the sink with my head down. I looked up to see my pale reflection staring back at me. Well, this is a good look on me compared to what I used to look like, I thought.

"Stupid, horrid nightmare." I said to myself in my apartment.

That memory was from five months ago in court. I shouldn't have to fear him any longer. The court gave him a two year sentence in jail. I would be long gone living somewhere else unable for him to locate me. I stepped out of my bathroom and was heading to the kitchen to make myself a cup of cold coffee, when I heard a 'ping!' come from my laptop. I walked around the counter and grabbed my laptop and set it on the kitchen counter. I sat on the high chair and looked at the screen.

From: zmalik@gmail.com

To: marlenea@gmail.com

Miss Alegria,

I would highly suggest you look into the case file you saved from roughly five months ago and I can assure you your question will be answered.

From: marlenea@gmail.com

To: zmalik@gmail.com

Mr. Malik,

I believe we have gone through this. Please, just call me by my first name. I'm not used to being called by my last name. I went through my file at least four times and I still cannot find what I'm looking for. Do you think you can be a little more descriptive?

From: zmalik@gmail.com

To: marlenea@gmail.com

Marlene,

My apologies. It's a force of habit given the type of career I have. I know coming from someone who isn't used to case files is rather difficult to locate certain things and understand them. Would you like to meet me at the local library? That way I can help you with your question and any others you might have. I'm sure you'll agree this method would be much easier than trying to solve your problem through email. You don't have to act like my client and I don't have to act like your lawyer. I want to help you simply because...I want to. So how about it? Meet me there around 4:30?

I reread Zayn's last email sent to me and it took me a minute to understand what his last sentences meant. There was nothing to debunk. It was plain as day. He wanted to help me because he felt like it and wanted to. Not because he had to and it was a requirement. I looked at the time on my laptop and it read 3:10.

From: marlenea@gmail.com

To: zmalik@gmail.com

Mr. Malik,

I would greatly appreciate your help. I will see you at the library at that time.

Regards, Marlene Alegria

From: zmalik@gmail.com

To: marlenea@gmail.com

Marlene,

The pleasure is all mine.

Sincerely, Zayn Malik

Author's note:

I understand this story has Zayn and Harry in it but it does not mean they're romantically involved. This story talks about them individually. Thank you if you decide to take a moment to read this! I hope you all enjoy this prologue. There will definitely be more to read about. Stay tuned!