The Message
721 Words
Beverly didn’t go to work that day.
She told herself she was tired, but the truth was simple.
She was scared.
Amara had called her three times that morning.
Beverly didn’t pick up.
Instead, she sat on her bed and stared at her phone.
The message was still there.
DON’T LOOK FOR HIM.
She read it again.
Then again.
“Beverly,” she whispered. “Who is texting you?”
Her phone rang.
Amara.
This time, she picked up.
“Beverly, are you okay?” Amara asked immediately.
“I’m fine.”
“You don’t sound fine.”
Beverly hesitated.
“I didn’t go to work.”
“Because of that man?”
Beverly didn’t answer.
Amara sighed softly.
“Talk to me.”
Beverly stood up and walked to the window.
Outside, the sky looked normal.
Too normal.
Like nothing strange had been happening.
“I got a message,” Beverly said quietly.
“What message?”
Beverly swallowed.
“Someone told me not to look for him.”
There was silence.
Then Amara spoke.
“That’s not normal, Beverly.”
“I know.”
“You should report it.”
“Report what? I don’t even know who sent it.”
Amara didn’t reply immediately.
“Beverly… be careful.”
“I am trying.”
After the call ended, Beverly sat quietly for a long time.
Then she opened her drawer again.
The photo was still there.
Her and Daniel.
His face still scratched out.
She touched the paper slowly.
“Who are you?” she whispered.
That afternoon, she went out.
She didn’t plan to go anywhere specific. She just needed air.
Her legs took her back to the shop.
It was closed.
She unlocked the door and went inside.
Everything was the same.
Same chair...Same counter...Same smell.
But it felt different now.
Like something had changed inside the place.
She walked to the wall where Daniel had stood.
Her heart tightened.
“Beverly,” she whispered. “You’re losing your mind.”
Then she noticed something.
On the floor.
A small piece of paper.
She picked it up.
It wasn’t there yesterday.
Her hands shook slightly as she opened it.
A name was written inside.
BEVERLY.
That was all.
Nothing else.
No explanation.
No handwriting she recognized.
Just her name.
Her phone rang again.
Unknown number.
She stared at it.
Then answered slowly.
“Beverly,” a man’s voice said.
Her breath stopped.
It was him.
Daniel.
Her grip tightened on the phone.
“Where are you?” she asked immediately.
There was a pause.
Then his voice came again.
“I shouldn’t be calling you.”
“Why? Who is doing this?”
Another pause.
Then Daniel said something that made her heart drop.
“Because every time I talk to you, you remember more.”
Beverly stepped back.
“Remember what?”
Daniel didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, she heard something in the background.
Rain.
Even though the sky outside was dry.
“I’m not safe for you to find,” Daniel said quietly.
Beverly shook her head.
“No. You don’t get to say that and disappear.”
A soft laugh came through the phone.
“You always said that too.”
Beverly froze.
“What did you just say?”
But the line went silent.
Then the call ended.
“Beverly?” she said quickly.
No answer.
She looked at the phone.
Call ended.
Her chest tightened.
Then a sound came from behind her.
The shop door had opened.
Slowly.
Beverly turned.
Daniel stood there.
Soaked.
Like rain had just followed him inside.
But outside was still dry.
He looked at her.
And for the first time, he didn’t smile.
“Beverly,” he said quietly.
“You’re not supposed to be here.”
Her voice shook.
“Then why are you always the one showing up?”
Daniel stepped inside slowly.
His eyes didn’t leave hers.
“Because you called me back,” he said.
Beverly frowned.
“I didn’t call you.”
Daniel looked at her for a long moment.
Then he said softly,
“Not this time.”
Silence filled the room.
Then he added,
“But once… you did.”
Beverly’s phone fell from her hand.
And somewhere far away, thunder struckacross a sky that wasn’t supposed to be raining.
- Writer
