LOGINI was already dressed and about to call a cab when everything finally settled into place. I had boarded my flight the night before, right after selling the car. Before leaving, I decided to write letters to Clara, Adrian, and Daniel. An email would have been easier, but paper felt heavier, more final. They would have to hold the pages in their hands.I bought three envelopes and pulled out three sheets of paper.On the first one, for Adrian:Dear Adrian,I’m not really sure how to start, but I’m still in shock at how everything played out. I did enjoy the times and moments we shared. I swear I never wanted to ruin what we had, that’s exactly why I did what I did. But you shocked me too. The deeper I dug, the more it felt like your love had been a performance, or maybe a way of compensating for something else. I tried not to believe it. I really did. But the truth kept revealing itself.How do I feel about all of this? Still in disbelief. If none of it had happened, maybe we could have
There was no other response coming from him, so I just let it go. What was more important right now was looking forward to moving on without them. The phone stayed quiet. Daniel did not reply again. My phone stayed quiet. I sat on the edge of the motel bed. The vodka bottle was still half full. The cigarettes sat on the table. But for the first time in weeks, my mind felt a bit clearer.I have always wanted to get my own place, but Daniel never thought of it a good idea. In his own words, women are supposed to submit to their husbands. Stay home, be a housewife, totally rely on me. But look how things have turned out to be now. The memory made me shake my head. I drove down to Adrian’s place. The road felt familiar. The house looked quiet when I arrived. Weeds had started to germinate in front of his drive through and beside the house and fences. The grass was longer than before. No one was really home. The windows stayed dark. I’ve been here constantly, but I didn’t get in due to Cl
I wasn’t driving too fast, just a little speed. I was so high right now. I had burnt three cigarettes, and had multiple face-slapping sips of vodka. The road looked soft and blurry under the street lights. My hands felt loose on the wheel. I managed to park my car in front of the motel. The building looked the same as always, plain and quiet.I sluggishly picked up the stuff I bought and floated to the reception. The bag of cigarettes, the bottle of vodka, and the snacks felt heavy in my arms. A staff member saw me struggling and came to help. She carried some of the things for me.“Thank you,” I said as the staff dropped my items on the table inside the room.“You’re welcome. If you’ll be needing anything else just let me know,” she responded with a polite smile.I nodded. Then she walked out the door, closing it behind her. The room was quiet again. I fly and land on the bed, eyes on the ceiling, now smiling at my current predicament. How funny. Everything felt light and strange be
“Look, I’ll pay you. Any amount you want. I just need information,” I say as my eyes look up to scan his face. “You can help me check your security cameras. I’m sure it would have picked up footage from that day, and you’ll see me on there too,” I added. My voice was soft but full of hope. I needed something , anything, that could lead me to Adrian.“I don’t think you understand, ma’am,” he said. His voice now more stern. “Like I said, I am just a worker here and the only thing I can currently help you out with is enquiries on hosting in this vicinity, and give you directions to the exit when done!!”“It’s just us here. Just one glance, and I’ll be out of here,” I responded. My hands stayed together, still pleading. The hall felt colder now. The empty chairs watched us.“I don’t want to be pushed to call security on you. Exit is that way!!” he said firmly. He pointed again toward the door I came from. His face left no room for more talk. I nod in defeat. Turning around and walking tow
Then it hit me. I know my way to one of the places where they had meetings before. Maybe I could ask for help there. Besides, they all exchanged greetings and were cozy with each other. The thought gave me a small spark of hope. I had spent too many days in the motel doing nothing. It was time to try something.So I got in my car and drove down to one of the centers used for the campaign. The drive felt long. My hands held the wheel tight. The roads looked the same as before, but everything felt different now. Adrian was still missing. No calls. No news. The silence hurt more each day.I park at the garage and get down. The whole place was empty compared to how full the campaign made it. No crowds. No posters. No busy people running around. It felt quiet and strange. I walked to the open space, which looked very wide and enormous. The crowd made it feel smaller before. Now it was just big and open. My footsteps echoed a little.I walked out the back of the building, taking the same ro
Weeks had passed, and I had spent it all in this motel. The small room became my new normal. The bed, the chair, the tiny bathroom, everything felt the same day after day. I hadn’t gotten word from Adrian. Not a call. Not a message. Nothing. I visited Aurex so many times, checking to see if Adrian ever got back. But he didn’t. Each time I went, the office felt empty without him. People looked at me strange, but no one said much.I had sent so many emails to his ex-wife. I reached out to her on Instagram and every other socials she would have. But to no avail. No replies. No messages back. It felt like she disappeared too. The bodyguards, the park, the argument, it all felt like a bad dream now. But it was real. I knew it. I even had to try and make peace with Clara. I wanted to see if she had gotten any news about him. But she has totally shut me out and restricted my access into Aurex. Her last words to me still rang in my head. Get out. Stay away. She blocked my calls. She would no
STRANGER AT CLUB MIRAGESecurity grabs my arm, their grip rough against my skin. I twist, trying to free myself. “Let me go!” I scream, tears spilling down my cheeks. “Ma’am, please, we can’t” “Don’t touch me!” I cry out again, my voice cracking. My eyes dart toward Daniel, desperate, searching fo
THE SCENE AT SKYBOUNDThe moment I step out of the car, I know I don’t belong here. The glass doors ahead reflect a version of me I barely recognize ,bare face, oversized T-shirt that hangs past my thighs, bathroom flip-flops smacking against the tiled floor as I walk. My hair is still damp from th
WHAT'S LEFT BEHIND I don’t even know how long I sit there before I finally move. I clean up the plates, wipe down the counter even though it’s spotless. His coffee cup is still half full. The rim has a faint print of his lips, I pour out the content and then rinse his cup and leave it upside down
CRACKS IN THE MORNING My eyes opened, as soon as I felt his hands rubbing on my thighs, I turn to him , “Morning” I say to him , smiling lightly as warmth floods through me at his touch. “Did you enjoy last night?” He asked with a smirk on his face . “I did ” I lied, he didn’t say anything to me a







