LOST HIM, FOUND YOU

THE CHOICE TO LEAVE

CHAPTER 3: THE CHOICE TO LEAVE

Zara didn’t move.

The moment stretched painfully between them, thin and fragile like something ready to break at the slightest touch.

Her eyes stayed locked on the figure standing at the door while her fingers slowly tightened at her sides.

The air suddenly felt heavier,

Smaller,

Harder to breathe in.

“Who’s there?” Caleb called from the sitting room.

Zara couldn’t answer.

Because she already knew.

Daniel.

Even thinking his name made something twist uncomfortably inside her chest.

Before anyone could notice the change in her expression, Zara turned and walked away quickly.

Too quickly to seem calm.

Too controlled to seem natural.

Behind her, Caleb stepped toward the door with confusion written across his face before politely allowing Daniel inside.

Without their parents around, the house carried an unusual silence.

Like it was waiting for something bad to happen.

Zara reached her room and shut the door quietly behind her.

Not angrily.

Not dramatically.

Just enough to create distance between herself and everything outside.

⸻

The moment she was alone, her thoughts rushed in immediately.

Fast.

Restless.

Unavoidable.

She began pacing slowly across the room, her slippers brushing softly against the tiled floor.

Back and forth.

Back and forth.

As though movement alone could calm whatever was happening inside her.

It didn’t.

Finally, she sat down at the edge of her bed and stared blankly at the wall clock.

Tick.

Tick.

Tick.

Each second sounded louder than the last.

If she could rewind time, she would.

Not far.

Just enough to avoid this exact moment.

“Who is that guy?”

Caleb’s voice broke through her thoughts suddenly.

Zara didn’t react.

She hadn’t even realized he entered the room.

It took his hand gently touching her shoulder to pull her back completely.

“Zara.”

Her eyes shifted slowly toward him like she was returning from somewhere far away.

“Please…” she whispered softly. “Just leave.”

Her voice wasn’t loud.

It didn’t need to be.

Caleb studied her carefully for a few seconds.

Concern flashed clearly across his face.

But instead of pressuring her, he nodded slowly.

As he reached the doorway, he paused.

“Try to be okay,” he said quietly. “You don’t have to carry everything alone.”

Then he left before she could respond.

But his words stayed behind.

The silence in the room returned almost immediately.

Only this time, it felt different.

Heavier.

More honest.

Zara exhaled shakily and pressed her palms together tightly, trying to steady herself.

Then slowly, she stood up.

Maybe staying wasn’t safe.

Maybe leaving would be easier.

Or maybe…

she simply didn’t want to be there when Daniel came back tomorrow.

That thought settled everything.

Without allowing herself time to overthink it, she reached for her bag.

Outside, Caleb sat awkwardly across from Daniel in the sitting room.

The conversation felt painfully one-sided.

“I just need to speak with Zara,” Daniel said calmly.

Firmly.

Something about the way he said it made Caleb stop asking questions.

Thirty uneasy minutes passed.

The ceiling fan spun lazily overhead while the distant sound of a generator from another house filled the quiet.

Eventually, Daniel stood.

“I’ll come back tomorrow,” he said while adjusting his sleeves. “When everyone’s around.”

Caleb nodded slowly, though the uneasy feeling in his chest remained.

He watched Daniel leave before walking toward Zara’s room again.

He pushed the door open—

—and stopped immediately.

Zara was packing.

For a second, he simply stared.

Then relief hit him so suddenly that he almost laughed.

“You’re going?” he asked, unable to hide the excitement in his voice.

Zara zipped her bag slowly before looking up.

“I think I need to.”

That answer alone was enough.

Without hesitation, Caleb crossed the room and pulled her into a tight hug.

Warm.

Protective.

Certain.

“You’ll be fine,” he murmured softly. “I’ve got you.”

For once, Zara didn’t pull away immediately.

She allowed herself to stay there for a few extra seconds.

And strangely…

it helped.

⸻

Later, when Caleb casually mentioned that Daniel planned to return the next day, the uncomfortable feeling inside her chest returned instantly.

No.

She couldn’t be here for that.

Her decision became final.

⸻

A few minutes later, the doorbell rang again.

This time, it was Ethan.

He walked into the house with easy familiarity, greeting Caleb casually before the two of them settled in the sitting room with a video game.

Their laughter slowly filled the tense atmosphere that had been hanging around the house all evening.

Then suddenly—

“CALEB!”

Zara’s voice echoed from down the hallway.

Caleb immediately dropped the controller and rushed toward her room.

Ethan looked up curiously.

When Caleb entered the room, Zara was already standing near the door with her bag resting against her shoulder.

She looked prepared.

Ready.

But her fingers gripped the strap a little too tightly.

“Let’s go,” she said quietly.

⸻

The moment Zara stepped into the sitting room, Ethan looked up—

—and paused.

Something about her caught him completely off guard.

Maybe it was how beautiful she looked without even trying.

Or maybe it was the quiet sadness hidden beneath her calm expression.

Whatever it was, he noticed it immediately.

“You look… really beautiful,” he said softly before thinking.

For a brief second, the words hung between them.

But Zara didn’t react.

Didn’t even look at him.

She walked right past him like he hadn’t spoken at all.

And somehow…

that affected him more than a response would have.

⸻

Just as they stepped outside, the front door opened again.

Mrs. Collins entered carrying her handbag before stopping immediately at the sight of them.

“Zara!”

Her face lit up warmly.

She walked over and wrapped Zara in a comforting embrace that instantly felt grounding.

Safe.

Different from the heaviness Zara had been carrying all evening.

Mrs. Collins leaned closer and whispered something softly into her ear.

Words meant only for her.

And unexpectedly—

Zara smiled.

A real smile.

Not forced.

Not polite.

Real enough to surprise even herself.

Mrs. Collins smiled back gently before pulling away.

“Go and enjoy yourself,” she said warmly. “And stop thinking too much.”

The taxi ride to school was quiet.

Outside the window, Port Harcourt moved with its usual restless energy.

Okadas weaved through traffic recklessly while roadside sellers called out loudly under the fading evening sunlight.

The heat rising from the road blurred everything slightly.

Zara rested her head lightly against the window and watched the city pass by.

Her thoughts still raced quietly inside her mind.

But somehow…

they weren’t as loud as before.

Beside her, Caleb noticed her silence.

Without saying anything, he reached over and held her hand gently.

Firm.

Reassuring.

Zara looked down briefly at their hands before relaxing slightly.

She didn’t pull away

Across from them, Ethan tried not to stare.

But failed completely.

There was something about Zara he couldn’t stop noticing.

Not just her appearance.

The sadness in her eyes.

The way she always seemed tense, like she was carrying something heavy alone.

And for reasons he didn’t understand yet…

he wanted to know why.

When they finally arrived at school, something immediately felt wrong.

Too quiet.

Too still.

The usual excitement and noise were missing completely.

Caleb frowned.

“Wait…”

Zara’s grip tightened around her bag instantly.

Nearby, one of the teachers noticed them and sighed.

“You’re late,” she said.

A small pause followed before she added—

“The bus already left.”

Caleb’s face dropped immediately.

“What?”

But Zara stayed silent.

Her fingers slowly tightened around her bag as the weight of those words settled inside her chest.

Maybe this trip was never meant to happen.

Then suddenly—

she noticed something in the distance.

And her breath caught instantly.