Fifteen
568 Words
FIONA
When he offered to walk me to my car, I thought it was cute so I let him.
It wasn’t far, but the company was nice. a little too nice. It felt easy in a way nothing between us had ever been.
Then his phone rang.
I watched the warmth leave his face mid‑call. Whatever he heard dragged him somewhere cold and distant. By the time he hung up, the man who’d walked beside me was gone.
“I need to get going” he said.
No goodbye.
I stood there for a moment after he left, the quiet of the parking lot settling around me, then shook it off and got in my car. I drove straight back to the office.
I was updating Luna on the meeting notes when Mr. Hale’s associate appeared.
“He’d like to see you.”
My stomach tightened as I walked to his office.
“Fiona, have a seat.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“I’m sure you know why you’re here.”
“No, sir.”
He chuckled. “Relax, You’re not in trouble. on the contrary, You’ve been doing excellent work.”
Relief loosened my shoulders. “Thank you, sir.”
He explained that Luna would be retiring early to help her daughter with a new baby. The news hit harder than I expected. Luna had been my guide through everything at the office since my first day.
“We want to give her a proper send‑off,” he said. “And there’s no one better to organize it.”
“It would be my honor sir.”
“Good. And one more thing, we’d like you to take over her role. Head of clerical and secretarial operations.”
I froze.
“This is a promotion. A significant one.”
“Thank you,” I managed. “Really, i promise to do my best to fill her shoes.”
I walked back to my desk in a daze. A raise means Stability. Security for me and my son. For the first time in weeks, the future didn’t look like a cliff edge.
That feeling lasted until evening.
Dinner was normal. Homework arguments then Dishes in the sink. I started planning Luna’s party and opened Pinterest for ideas.
Then my phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
I opened the message.
A photo.
My blood went cold.
It was Flavian.
In his school uniform.
Zoomed in.
it was a recent photo.
My hands started to shake.
“Are you okay, Mom?” he asked from the table.
I forced my voice steady. “I’m fine, baby. Finish your homework.”
Another message came in.
He’s grown.
My chest felt tight.
Who is this? What do you want? I typed.
No reply.
I tucked Flavian into bed, every sense on high alert, checking the locks twice, then three times. I tried to tell myself it was a prank. A mistake. Some sick joke.
But the photo was taken close. Too close.
Back in my room, I checked my phone again.
Nothing.
The silence felt worse than a threat.
I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, my mind racing through possibilities I didn’t want to name. I had just survived one nightmare. I didn’t know if I had the strength for another.
Eventually exhaustion pulled me under, but even in sleep, the fear stayed with me; quiet, patient,waiting.
- Writer
