Eliana

Catastrophic Scandal

After grabbing a thick jacket, I opened the front door and stepped outside. It had been so long since I last went on a walk alone. Having my own privacy was sort of forbidden, since my parents were really protective of me—especially my dad. Ever since I was young, I was never able to go outside, to play with friends or cousins. I was always under his watchful eye, and thinking about it now...it felt like he was always watching me... From the moment I was old enough to realize and notice this, up until now. At times, I thought it was normal, but many other times, I found it odd...

But in the end...he’s just my father...right?

As I walked past a café that was still open, I saw a group of teenagers standing in a circle, holding hands and singing. I frowned and leaned a bit closer, though I didn’t stop walking, as if I were caught between wanting to join them and just minding my own business.

The song they sang was pleasant, and as I passed them, I began humming the tune while making my way through an alley.

I walked through the deserted alley, the darkness wrapping around me like a cloak. But it wasn’t unsettling—it was peaceful. The moonlight glistened above, painting the ground in pale silver, just bright enough to guide my steps. It was so quiet, a kind of silence I hadn’t experienced in ages. It felt like I was the only one left in the world, with nothing but the soft hum of the song I picked up a few blocks back and the gentle drip of water from the earlier rain. The sound of the song blasting through my ears, my throat, and my brain felt steady, like a companion to my thoughts.

I tilted my head to the sky. The stars were so bright tonight, twinkling in a way that felt almost magical. I hadn’t realized how much I missed this kind of stillness. No words, no cars, no noise—just me and the night, with the moon and stars as my only witnesses.

And as I had always wished...wishing that time would stop...but in the end...I think that’s the only wish that could never come true. I stopped in my tracks, looking ahead.

Two men stood, leaning casually against what looked like an old garage. They were big, well-built, their lazy posture masking something more dangerous beneath. Empty beer cans lay scattered at their feet, and in their hands were bottles of alcohol, slowly sipped, the other hand holding cigarettes that glowed faintly in the dark.

My chest tightened, and a wave of cold fear and uncertainty washed over me. My heart pounded in my ears, louder than the silence, louder than the hum of the song still caught in my throat. I clutched my jacket tighter, as if the fabric could protect me from whatever might come next. Every instinct told me to turn back, to slip away quietly into the shadows, but the thought of them being behind me—an unknown threat lurking at my back—seemed even worse.

I forced myself to keep walking. Turning around would only make me more vulnerable. My throat felt tight, but I hummed the song again, softer this time, the sound barely escaping my lips. I kept my eyes fixed on the ground, refusing to look at them. My grip on the jacket tightened until my knuckles ached, and I felt their gaze on me as I passed by, my feet moving almost mechanically...

For a moment, I thought they might say something, but they didn’t. I glanced up just enough to see them staring before their eyes shifted away almost immediately, taking a step away from me... My breath caught, and I fastened my pace, but each step felt like it lasted an eternity, my heart raced with every second.

Without realizing it, I had made it out of the alley. The tension in my chest began to loosen as I stepped away from the looming shadows behind me. Ahead of me was a beautiful park, brimming with nature, like an unexpected sanctuary.

The air felt different—lighter, softer—carrying the scent of grass and flowers. The trees swayed gently in the breeze, their leaves rustling in a calming rhythm. The contrast between the dark, suffocating alley and this peaceful haven was almost startling. The stars above seemed even brighter here, and the moon cast a softer glow over the open space. I took a deep breath, my fear slowly unraveling, replaced by the serenity of the park.

It was as if I had stepped into another world, leaving danger and uncertainty behind.

I walked over and immediately sat down on a bench, my legs feeling weak.

A sudden vibration startled me, but it was just a phone call from my father. I hesitantly picked up. "H-hey... Dad."

A sigh came from the other side. "Where are you? Since when do you sneak out? Your mom and I are worried, Eliana!"

His voice pierced my ears, forcing me to distance the phone from my ear. "I-I'm sorry... I just needed some fresh air. I'm really sorry."

Another sigh escaped him, and I could hear my mom’s anxious voice in the background. She was undoubtedly worried. "Tell me where you are, and I’ll come get you."

With that, I sent him my location and waited patiently. In what felt like only a few minutes, he arrived. Waiting for me. I got up, took one last look around, and went to his car.

At first, the ride was silent and suffocating, and just as I felt him about to speak, I cut him off. "It was suffocating in the house...and without thinking, I just stepped out. I’m sorry. I should’ve woken one of you. I won’t do it again."

My father glanced at me and said, "There are crazy people out there, Eliana. I’m scared that if you walk away from us, something bad might happen to you, since...never mind."

I frowned softly, confused. "Since what? Since you’re well known?"

He remained quiet for a moment before nodding. "Yeah."

For some reason, his answer didn’t satisfy my curiosity. But not wanting to raise any more tension, I stayed quiet until we got home. After another scolding from Mom, I went to my room and threw myself on the bed, staring at the ceiling. "Life’s tough... I don’t even know how I’ve made it this far. The scam...the car accident...those two creepy men...it all just seems unreal...I'm so scared..."

Jasmine’s words crossed my mind again. "Do I really have some kind of power...or am I just lucky? Or am i lucky enough to be protected?...but if that's the case...who..? Who possesses that much power to be able to protect me every single time..."

I let out a deep breath I didn't know I was holding in and shut my eyes tight. "Whatever it is...or whoever you are...thank you..." And with that, I drifted to sleep.

...

The next day, a Saturday, I got a phone call from my boyfriend, Luca, asking me out on a date. Without hesitation, I accepted and rushed to shower, pamper myself, and get ready.

After adding a last touch of perfume, Luca arrived with a bouquet of red roses, not surprising, smiling from ear to ear. I set the perfume down and rushed to him, hugging him tightly. "What can I even say?"

The overwhelming joy I get when I see this man can't be put to words. He slid his hands down to my waist, pulling me closer, and placed a soft kiss on my shoulder. "What can I, say... You look absolutely stunning."

I glanced up at him, chuckling as my cheeks warmed. "Are you ready? We have a long, relaxing day ahead."

I put the flowers aside, nod and take his hand, as we make our way to his car.

...

Halfway through the ride, just as my eyes began to flutter shut, both of our phones buzzed frantically. Startled, I pulled mine out, and so did Luca. What I saw next made my entire world shatter. My heart dropped into my stomach.

Luca swerved the car off to the side of the road, his face drained of color, his eyes wide and searching. His hands shook as he gripped the steering wheel tighter before finally turning to look at me, his expression a mix of disbelief and pain. The silence between us was deafening, like the weight of the entire world pressing down on us both.

“T-that’s not you…right?” His voice was barely a whisper, strained, as if it hurt him just to say the words. His eyes, once filled with warmth and love, now brimmed with something else—something that tore at my heart.

I couldn’t breathe. My fingers trembled as I stared at the screen, at the photos and messages that painted a story—a terrible, twisted story. I wanted to scream, to deny it, but the weight of the evidence was overwhelming. My vision blurred as tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. My heart pounded so loudly I could barely hear anything else.

“Luca, I—” My voice cracked, but the words wouldn’t come. How could I explain something I didn’t even understand myself? The hurt in his eyes cut deeper than any accusation.

He put his phone down gently, almost too gently, as if handling something fragile, and then reached for my hands, holding them tightly. His grip was firm but shaky, as though he was clinging to the last bit of hope he had left. “Please, Eliana...tell me this isn’t true…” His voice broke, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

I could see it—he wanted to believe me, to believe that this was all some horrible mistake. But I could also see the fear—the fear that maybe, just maybe, the person he loved wasn’t who he thought she was.

The knot in my throat tightened. I swallowed hard, trying to fight back the tears that were threatening to spill over. “Luca…” My voice was barely audible. I didn’t know how to answer, didn’t know what to say to erase the devastation written all over his face.

The silence between us felt like a knife twisting deeper with every second. In his eyes, I saw his heart breaking, just as mine was... "You think I'd do this..? You think I'd cheat on you....?"