Save Me

Mia POVAfter finishing a delicious dinner that Mom had made, I stepped outside to grab a smoke. As I leaned against the railing, I pulled out my phone and sent a message to my sister: "Let’s go out again tomorrow."The moment I hit send on the text to my sister, my phone buzzed with an incoming call. It was from the company I had applied to for the accounts clerk position. I hesitated for a moment before answering, a feeling of dread creeping up my spine.“Hello, Mia Anderson?” a stern voice on the other end asked."Yes, speaking." I replied, my stomach already in knots.“I’m calling in regard to your application. Unfortunately, we will not be moving forward with your candidacy for the position,” the voice continued, “After reviewing your records, it has come to our attention that you have been arrested multiple times—three to be exact—for stealing, drug abuse, damaging property, and drinking and driving. These actions are in direct violation of our company’s standards.”I froze, una

I rushed downstairs, my heart pounding in my chest. I needed something to numb the overwhelming feeling that had gripped me. My hands were shaky as I scanned the kitchen, desperate for anything that could help me forget. Then, my eyes landed on a bottle of vodka sitting on the counter. Without thinking, I grabbed it and chugged it down, the burning liquid searing its way down my throat. It didn't bring comfort—it only made the gnawing pain inside me worse.As the alcohol hit, my mind began to race. What could have been? What would Emma have done with her life if I hadn’t come into it? She never got the chance to go to college, never had the opportunity to get married, never had kids, never traveled the world. All of it was taken from her. And it was my fault.I was overcome with sadness, my emotions spiraling out of control. A deep, suffocating depression settled in my chest, and I could feel the anger building within me. Anger at myself, for not saving her. Anger for not being there

DAY 1Apollo and I sat on the living room floor, the weight of what just happened still pressing heavily on my chest. My mind raced, replaying every second of my brief interaction with Emma.I had seen her. Heard her voice.But I hadn’t told her the truth.I exhaled sharply and looked at Apollo, who studied me with patience, waiting for me to process everything.“She didn’t recognize me,” I whispered. “She looked at me like I was a stranger.”Apollo nodded. “That’s part of the deal, Mia. No one will recognize you—not as you were.”I swallowed hard. “Then how do I reach her? How do I… how do I get close to her?”Apollo leaned back against the couch, tapping his fingers against his knee in thought. “Well, let’s start with what we know. You have two days. That’s not a lot of time, but it’s enough to make an impact.”I bit my lip, my mind racing. “She’s still in school, which means she probably has a routine. If I can get close enough to her, maybe I can… I don’t know, be someone she trus

Day 2That night, I sat on the worn-out couch in the house Apollo and I were staying in, my mind spinning. Emma’s words played over and over in my head."She was angry all the time, but she wouldn’t tell me why."Why was I angry back then?I tried to remember, but my memories felt like broken shards—sharp, scattered, painful to touch.Apollo, sitting on the armrest, watched me closely. “You okay?”I shook my head. “No. Emma sees me as someone who abandoned her. Someone who threw everything away. But I don’t remember why I became like that.”Apollo leaned forward. “Then we need to find out. You have one more day left, Mia. You need to get to the root of what led to your downfall. Otherwise, history will repeat itself.”I exhaled deeply, my breath shaky as the weight of the situation pressed down on me. “What if Emma doesn’t fall for it?” I asked, the doubt in my voice impossible to hide.Apollo looked at me with a steady gaze, his expression calm and sure. “I know you’re scared, but if

Emma was sitting alone on the porch when I found her. The evening sun bathed her in a golden glow, making her look so peaceful, so innocent. A slight breeze ruffled her hair as she absentmindedly traced circles on the wooden railing.She had no idea what was coming.I hesitated, watching her for a moment before gathering the courage to step forward. The old wooden steps creaked under my weight as I lowered myself onto the porch beside her.She glanced at me, her expression relaxed but mildly surprised. “Oh, hey, Sandy.”I forced a small smile. “Hey.”For a while, neither of us spoke. We just sat there, listening to the distant hum of the neighbourhood—the rustling leaves, the occasional barking dog, the faint laughter of kids playing down the street. The world felt so calm, yet inside, I was a storm.I took a deep breath, breaking the silence. “Emma… have you ever had a moment where you felt like everything was slipping away? Like… no matter what you do, it’s never enough?”She furrow