EPISODE1:THEESCAPE
987 Words
Chapter1 : THE ESCAPE
I stood at the edge of my new apartment, staring out the window as the city light flickered like scattered stars. This place was nothing like my home town, the street were alive,filled the hum of car horns and horrid foot steps, a constant reminder that life never paused for anyone. That was exactly what i needed: movement,distractions any thing to silence the echo of my past.
Adrian,
The name itself sent a chill through me, a ghostly whisper of love and destruction intertwined. He had been my everything once, the kind of love that made you feel invincible until it broke you into a thousand unrecognizable pieces. And that was exactly what he did.
i exhaled slowly, pushing the memories away. This is my fresh start, i reminded myself. A new city, a new life, a version of me that adrian haf no power over.
A soft knock on the door pulled me out of my thoughts. I hesitated before opening it not expecting anyone.
"Hey, neigbour".
The man standing before me had an easy smile,warm brown eyes, and an energy that felt like safety. He was holding a small potted plant. I blinked,surprised by the kindness of a stranger. After years of isolation and emotional warfare with adrian, i had forgotten what simple gestures felt like.
"Maya," i said , my voice barely above a whisper.
Daniel extended the plant towards me,and i hesitated before gaking it. My fingers brushed against his, and for the first time in a long while, i didnt flinch at someone's touch.
"I live across the hall,"he continued. "If you ever need anything tools,sugar, a ranting partner. I'm right there."
I found myself smiling, something that felt foreign yet oddly familiar. "Thank you. That's really thoughtful. Daniel gave a small nod, his eyes lingering on mine for a moment longer ."Welcome to the building,Maya. And just like that he was gone.
I closed the door and leaned against it, staring at the plant in my hands. It was small,delicate,yet somehow resilient. Much like the girl i used to be before Adrian took everything from her. Maybe just maybe i could grow again too.
Days turned into weeks, and with every passing moment, i found myslef adjusting tobthis new life. Daniel became a familiar presence, always offering a smile, a cup of coffee, or a listening ear when he sensee my quiet moods. He never pried, never asked questions i wasnt ready to answer. He just was steady , patient, and everything adrian had never been. It scared me .
Because gorbthe first time ,someone was treating me like i was worth something. And i didnt know how to handle that. One evening, as we sat on my couch sharing takeout,he asked,"Why did you move here?"
I hesitated, my fingers tightening atound my chopsticks."needed a change."
Daniel didnt push. He simply nodded, as if he understood the weight behind thise words.
" Change is hood ,"he said."It means you're still fighting for yourself."
I looked ar him then, really looked at him . His kindness wasnt firced , nor was it some disguise for manipulation. It was real. And that terrified me more than anything.
Because what if i wasnt ready for real?
what if the past still had its claws in me ?
I found out the hard way tgat ghosts don't die just because you change your address.
One late afternoon my phone buzzed with a number i had deleted but could never forget.
My stomach twisted.
I shouldn't have answered. I knew i should have . But old havits, especially the ones tied to pain, are the hardest to break.
"Hello?" My voice was barely above my whisper.
"Maye" His voice was silk and poison all at once.
I gripped tge phone, my pulse hammering against my ribs . "What do you want, Adrian?"
A pause. A slow inhale. "I just ... saw your pictures. You cut your hair."
I swallowed hard. "So?"
Another pause. The., softer. "You look beautiful."
I clenched my jaw,anger mixing with something more dangerous nostalgna.
"I'm not doing this," i said , my voice finally finding strength. "You dont get to call me out of nowhere Like you still have a place in my life."
His chuckles was low, familiar."Maya, come on we were—"
"No," i cut in . " you were everything to me and then you ruined me ."
silence.
The ,a sign, ""I'm in towns
Ice ran through my veins." Why are you telling me this?"
"Because i miss you."
I squeezed my eyes shut, my grip tightened on the phone."Goodbye Adrian."
i himg up befire he could say anything else, but it was too late
His voice was already in my head.
Tha t night, Daniel found me sitting on the rooftop,knees pulled to my chest. He didnt say anything at first. He just sat besides me,offering me his quiet presence.
After a long silence. I finally whispered, "He called."
Daniel didnt ask who. He just knew.
"And how do you feel about that ?"
I let out a bitter laugh. Like a fool."
Daniel turned to face me , his expression soft yet firm. "You're just someone who loved deeply. And sometimes, the past has a way of clawing back in, even when we dont want it to."
i looked at him, searching his face for any sign of judgment. But there was none.
"Do you still love him?"he asked.
The question hung in the air between us, suffocating and terrifying.
" I dont know," I admitted.
And that was the most painful truth of all.
As i lay in bed thag night,staring at the ceiling, i realized something.
Adrian was my past. Daniel was my present.
But i had no idea which ine would shape my tomorrow.
And maybe, just maybe , that choice would break me all over again.
P
- Writer
