The Fifth Pillar

Chapter 5: The First StepUntitled Episode

Cecil's hand felt like it was holding an impossible amount of weight. She stood still behind the counter, staring at the beautiful piece of paper as Toby walked away. The smell of his light, fresh cologne still hung in the air, which was very different from the bad taste of betrayal that had been her only friend for weeks. She put the card in her pocket just as her boss came to check on her. Her heart was racing and her eyes were wide.

She walked home in a daze after her shift, holding the card in her pocket like a charm. She took it out of her small room and put it on the borrowed desk. The simple, handwritten words were like a light in the dark. "You don't have to be alone."

Who was he? Why was he being so nice? The part of her mind that was rational and scared, the part that had been sharpened by Mark and Clara's betrayal, screamed in protest. This was too good to be real. He must have a reason, a plan. Was he taking pictures of her? Was this a different game? Another mean joke at her expense? She thought about the smirk on Clara's face, and she felt sick all over. Being alone was safer. Staying hidden in this quiet life where no one could find her, let alone hurt her again, was safer.

Her phone rang. She thought about it before picking it up. A different message. It wasn't from Clara; it was from a woman who used to work with Cecil and who he had thought was a friend. The message said, "I'm sorry for everything, but Mark and Clara have a point." “You were too trusting. You might want to stay away from social media for a while. It's for the best”. The words were meant to be nice, but they were just another knife in her already broken heart. She felt the same heavy weight of loneliness that she always did. Even her "friends" were on their side. She was alone in a cruel world.

Cecil turned around and looked at the card on her desk. The note made me feel like I should come out of the shadows. The danger was very high. She could get hurt again, and this time it would be even more embarrassing for her in front of a lot of people. But the idea of spending another day in this crushing loneliness, staring at the ceiling all night, was even scarier. She really wanted to hold on to his simple act of kindness, which was a thin thread.

Her hands shook as she picked up the phone. Her heart raced in her ears as her fingers hovered over the screen. She took a deep breath and opened the text message app. Then she started to type.