INNER PEACE
914 Words
Chapter 4
* inner peace*
Sophie learned very early that silence could be loud.
It sat in her chest now as she drove to work, her fingers wrapped tightly around the steering wheel. The road was familiar. She had driven it so many times she barely noticed the turns anymore. Yet today, everything felt heavier. Her body was here, but her mind lagged behind, tangled in thoughts she did not want to have.
She had not slept.
Not really.
Every time she closed her eyes, her phone lit up in her mind. Jake’s name. Jake’s messages. Jake reminding her of things she wished she could forget. Things she wanted buried so deep they would never resurface.
She parked and stayed there longer than necessary, staring at the café through the windshield. The warm lights inside felt distant, like they belonged to another world. A normal world. One she was slowly drifting away from.
Get it together, Sophie.
She stepped out of the car and forced herself to move.
Inside, the familiar smell of coffee wrapped around her, comforting and cruel at the same time. It reminded her of routine, of pretending, of smiling when she wanted to disappear. She tied her apron, greeted her coworkers, and took her place behind the counter like she always did.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket.
She froze.
She did not need to check it. Her body already knew.
Jake.
She ignored it and focused on wiping the counter, even though it was already clean. Her hands trembled slightly. She pressed her lips together and inhaled slowly.
Another vibration.
Her chest tightened.
She pulled the phone out, staring at the screen like it might bite her.
Come over when you’re done.
Her thumb hovered over the screen. A familiar wave of anger rose in her stomach. Sharp. Sudden. Tired.
No.
She slipped the phone back into her pocket without replying.
For the first time in weeks, she felt something shift inside her. Small, but real. A quiet decision forming before fear could crush it.
Minutes passed. Orders came in. Cups were filled. Smiles were forced.
Then the phone rang.
Her heart dropped.
She stared at it for three seconds too long before answering. “What.”
Jake laughed softly. He always sounded amused, like nothing ever touched him. “That’s not how you answer me.”
“I’m not coming,” Sophie said. Her voice shook, but she did not stop. “I’m done.”
There was a pause on the other end. She could almost imagine his expression, calm and unreadable.
“You don’t get to decide that,” he said lightly.
“Yes, I do,” she replied, surprising herself. “I’m tired.”
“Tired,” he repeated, amused. “You’re talking to me like you’ve forgotten something.”
“I know who I’m talking to,” she said. “And I’m still saying no.”
Another laugh. Lower. Dangerous in a way she could not explain.
“You’ve gotten brave,” Jake said.
She hung up.
Her hands were shaking now. Her chest felt too tight, like the air had thickened around her. She leaned against the counter for a second, grounding herself.
Just breathe.
She reached for a cup of coffee to serve the next customer. Her mind was still spinning when her hand slipped.
The coffee spilled.
“Oh my God,” she said immediately. “I’m so sorry. I wasn’t paying attention. I’m really sorry.”
She grabbed napkins, panic flooding her. The suit was expensive. She could tell instantly.
“It’s alright,” the man said.
She looked up.
He was calm. Not irritated. Not angry. Just… steady.
“It was an accident,” he added gently.
“I’ll get my manager,” Sophie said quickly. “We can cover the cleaning.”
“That won’t be necessary.” He studied her face for a moment. “Are you okay?”
The question caught her off guard.
She hesitated. “Yes.”
He did not push, but his eyes lingered, thoughtful. “You look exhausted.”
She gave a small, tired smile. “Long day.”
He nodded like he understood. “I’m Daniel.”
“Sophie.”
They stood there for a moment longer than necessary, something quiet settling between them. Not attraction. Not tension. Just ease.
When he reached into his pocket and handed her a card, she frowned slightly. “What’s this for?”
“Just in case,” he said. “You seem like someone who handles a lot alone.”
She took it before she could think too much about it.
“Joyn Corporation,” she read softly.
“Yes.”
She swallowed. “Thank you.”
“Take care of yourself, Sophie,” Daniel said before leaving.
She watched him walk out, his presence lingering longer than it should have.
Later that night, Sophie sat on her bed with the lights off, her phone face down beside her. She had not replied to Jake. She did not plan to.
Daniel’s card rested in her hand. She turned it over slowly, unsure why she kept it.
She did not want complications.
She did not want men.
She wanted peace.
But as she lay back and stared at the ceiling, Sophie knew one thing for certain.
She was done running.
Whatever came next, she would face it on her own terms………if she had known what was coming, she would have ran has far as she could.
- Writer
