Chapter 7
1915 Words
Lila's POV
I kept my eyes on her, trying as hard as I could to believe her.
I wanted to believe that there was a solution, I wanted to believe that we could find that solution.
But the more my mind went back to the message, the less I saw the light.
But I nodded anyway, looking away from her even as it hurt me to think.
“Fine,” I replied softly and Tessa nodded.
“Now let's go to bed,” she said. “It's been a long day.”
“No, I'm not sleepy,” I countered but she just stared at me with her brows shot up.
“Are you for real? You are more than tired. Just try and sleep, staying awake won't solve anything,” she replied and I nodded.
She was right, so I adjusted as I could, not bothering to take off the clothes as I couldn't feel the need.
Tessa jumped in beside me and turned the other way.
“Goodnight, Lila,” she said and for a second there, my brain didn't register the name.
It felt odd.
But I nodded back. “Goodnight, Tessa.”
After laying for minutes without a single sleep, I turned over to my side.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw it again.
Identity not found.
It kept ringing in my mind like a warning I couldn’t run from.
By the time morning came, I was already awake. I sat up on the edge of the bed, tapping Tessa wildly before unhooking my dress.
“What? What? I'm awake,” she exclaimed, rubbing her eyes.
“Good, time to go,” I chuckled at her reaction as I let the dress fall to my feet and made for the bathroom.
I didn't waste any second showering and stepped out fully dry a few minutes later.
Tessa had gotten up by now. “Do we have to go so early?” She groaned.
“If we want to beat the traffic and queue, yes,” I replied as I made to dress up, only then realizing I had no clothes here.
“We didn't come with our clothes,” I whispered and Tessa chuckled.
“s**t, we completely didn't think that far,” she added.
“You shower while I go get us something nice,” I replied and picked up my bag, already moving.
“Lila,” she called and I stopped.
“We don't have time,” I replied.
“Remember your card problem?” She said and it dawned on me immediately that I was rushing for nothing.
“Oh,” is all I could mutter and Tessa chuckled.
“Don't worry, let me go get us something,” she said. “I'll be quick.”
She stepped out and I dropped on the bed with my hands clasped tightly together.
I kept shuffling around till she finally returned and tossed me a pair of a white paper top and black cargo.
“Simplest pairing I could find,” she said with a shrug.
“It will have to do,” I replied as I pulled them on.
In ten minutes, Tessa was done and ready to go.
We stepped out together, jumped into the car, and zoomed off immediately.
I kept staring ahead as Tessa drove, barely able to keep my hands steady.
She peered up at me and chuckled. “At this rate, you'll lay an egg before we get there.”
I chuckled too but shook it off fast, I had to get this right.
We pulled up at the bank shortly afterwards and I rushed out before fear could take over.
Tessa struggled to catch up behind but reached my side as I slowed down.
When we got fully inside, I walked straight to the nearest counter.
“I need help with my account,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
The woman behind the desk smiled politely. “Of course. Can I have your card?”
I handed it over and she inserted it, typing something into her system.
Paused, then her smile faded slightly.
“Could you confirm your name, please?”
“Lila,” I said immediately. “Lila—”
I gave her my full name and she typed again. Then her brows pulled together.
“I’m sorry,” she said slowly, “but I’m not finding any records under that name.”
My stomach dropped. “That’s not possible,” I said. “Try again.”
She did but shook her head.
“Do you have an ID?” She asked.
“Yes.” My hands moved quickly as I pulled it out and handed it to her.
She examined it, then typed again. And again, my heart pounded as she did her work.
Finally, she turned the monitor slightly towards me.
“This is our system,” she said carefully. “There are no accounts linked to this identity.”
I stared at the screen, at the empty box
No records.
No history.
Nothing.
“That’s wrong,” I whispered. “I’ve had this account for years.”
“I understand,” she replied but her tone came out neutral. “But based on what we’re seeing, this identity isn’t registered in our system.”
My chest tightened painfully. “What do you mean ‘this identity’?” I demanded. “I’m standing right here!”
She didn’t react immediately, just shrugged. “I’m sorry,” she repeated. “There’s nothing more we can do from here.”
Nothing more? Just like that? Like I was… nothing.
“You can't tell me that,” I snapped and Tessa immediately stepped forward and placed a hand on my shoulder.
“Come on, now, Tessa. Let's go,” she muttered.
“No!” I yelled. “She has to tell me what she means by that,” I added, pointing at the woman.
“Ma'am, if you don't control yourself, I'll be forced to have the security move you out,” she said and Tessa pulled me away.
“I'm sorry, we are leaving,” she said and before I could argue, she led me out.
“This is insane,” I muttered as we stepped out. “This is actually insane.”
“Let’s go to your lawyer,” Tessa said immediately. “He’ll know what to do.”
I nodded, only because I needed anything at all to hold onto.
We drove there in a quicky and knowing my way around, I got us to his office in no time.
He looked up the moment we entered. And froze.
“Lila?” He said, standing abruptly. “What—what’s going on? You look—”
“Something’s wrong,” I cut in. “Everything is wrong.”
He adjusted immediately and gestured to the seat ahead of me.
“Sit,” he said.
But I didn’t.
“I went to the bank,” I continued with my voice shaking despite my effort to control it. “My account is gone. They said my identity doesn’t exist. My card keeps declining. My phone is glitching. I can’t reach anyone—”
“Wait,” he interrupted, holding up a hand. “Slow down.”
“I don’t have time to slow down!” I snapped, and everything seemed to slow around me.
Then he studied me carefully before gesturing to the seat ahead of me again. “Sit.”
This time, I did.
He joined me but said nothing for a second too long, before finally clearing his throat.
“That’s…” he started, then stopped. And for the first time since I’d known him, he looked worried.
“I don’t understand,” he admitted.
And a cold dread settled in my chest.
“You don’t understand?” I repeated.
Then he ran a hand over his hair. “If what you’re saying is accurate…” he muttered, thinking out loud. “Then legally…”
He stopped and looked at me. “Lila,” he said slowly, “right now… you don’t exist.”
Hearing those words directed at me now hit harder than everything else.
“What?”
“To the system. To records. To institutions,” he clarified. “If your identity isn’t recognized, then legally, you are not who you claim to be.”
My throat tightened. “That’s not possible.”
“I know,” he said quietly. “But it’s what we’re dealing with.”
I shook my head, standing abruptly. “No. Fix it.”
“I’m not sure I can.”
The room went still.
“You’re my lawyer,” I said with my voice dropping dangerously low. “Fix it.”
He hesitated, and that delay said it all.
“The best thing you can do right now…” he said carefully, “is stay out of sight. Until we understand what’s happening.”
“Stay out of sight?” I echoed.
“Yes. Because if this is bigger than a system error, if someone did this intentionally? Then you being visible might make things worse.”
Worse?
I let out a hollow laugh.
“What could possibly be worse than this?”
He didn’t answer, just pressed his lips into a thin line and that was all the answer I needed.
I nodded my head. “Thank you for your time,” I muttered as I picked up my bag and turned to leave.
“Lila,” he called and I stopped.
“You are a strong girl, show them how strong you are,” he added.
I didn't need to turn around again, I didn't want to. I just stepped out, walking by Tessa who just followed me.
“What happened? What did he say?” She asked and I just walked.
I kept walking till we reached the car.
“Talk to me, Lila,” she said again and I turned sharply.
“He said I don't exist, okay?!” I snapped.
We stared at each other for a few minutes without saying a word.
Then Tessa stepped closer and pulled me into a hug. That's when I broke.
Tears flowed immediately as my body shook against hers.
“He said there's nothing he can do, that to everyone, I don't exist, I'm gone,” I muttered into her shoulder.
“It's alright,” Tessa muttered and I shook harder.
“It's not,” I replied, letting it all out. “He said I should disappear, run away, how will I leave everything behind, Tessa?” I asked.
“The same way they left you behind,” she replied immediately, pulling back to see my tears streaked face. “You are stronger than this, Lila, show them,” she added.
The words of the lawyer came back immediately and I sniffed immediately, nodding my head.
“Can I borrow your phone?” I asked.
She raised a brow but shrugged anyway. “Sure,” she said, taking it out and handing it over to me.
I opened her i********: and searched my name. But nothing came out.
I sobbed harder even as she stroked my hair calmly.
I searched for Adrian this time and results appeared instantly.
My heart started pounding as I clicked the first post and it was his wedding photos.
Photos of Adrian and Lena, but she wasn't looking herself again.
She was looking like—
No, she was me.
- Writer
