All Chapters of STAY CLOSE TO ME: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

POV: MELISAIt was midnight. It's been 3 years since I am still working the same thing day and night restless.I could barely hold myself up, trying to gather what little strength I had left from the long day. After school, I headed straight to work. Now here I am, cleaning up the last of the mess, managing orders from restless customers. It's exhausting, but I have no choice.Everytime I go out and get ready for work or school I let my grandma finish her medicine and make sure she will eat and have food ready to serve. We have a microwave at least to help my grandma eat without me around. I am rushing to the bus stop getting the same routine heading to my work.Do you know what it feels like to be so overwhelmed by work that it crushes you, day and night, like it's running through your veins? I know I need to break free from this situation but my Grandma has always been my strength through it all. After everything I’ve been through in life, she remains my anchor. I just miss my grandm

POV: SEBASTIANI sat in the middle of my room, still in the same clothes from yesterday. I didn't want to move, let alone go to work but I had no choice. The debts from my grandmother's funeral weren't going to pay themselves. I hated this life. I hated being poor. I hated being invisible and underestimated.I wanted more. I wanted revenge. I wanted to be rich, powerful... untouchable. But how? I looked around, still thinking about last night—the food, the spotless house. Even my fridge had groceries. It wasn’t much, but still… someone had definitely been here. A robbery? I gasped. But that’s impossible. Who breaks into someone’s house just to clean, cook, and leave groceries?Ridiculous.Now thinking about revenge as I snap myself to reality that it was impossible for me to have it. A fool like me? Someone powerless like me? I don't think I was ever meant to see what happiness truly feels like. I'm tired of dreaming. Tired of people. Everything in this world seems to spin around ch

POV: MELISAI hurried to bury the fingers in my backyard, making sure to plant some seeds and flowers over them. My hands trembled as I worked, my heart racing with every move. I had to act calm, make it seem normal. I couldn't let my neighbors get suspicious. After what I'd done, I couldn't afford to let anyone notice. Why I am so stupid for these things, it always gives me problems. When I finished, I rushed inside, trying to ignore the weight in my chest. I ate my dinner quickly, then grabbed my pen to try to focus on my assignment. But the thoughts wouldn't stop. Life had been so hard lately, and no matter how hard I tried, the loneliness settled deeper in my bones. Anxiety gnawed at me. Before I knew it, tears welled up in my eyes. I couldn't hold it in anymore. I cried, letting the emotions crash over me, feeling hopeless, feeling like everything I'd done didn't matter. But even through all the pain, I pushed myself to keep going. I had to make my grandmother proud, even though

POV: MELISA I woke up in an unfamiliar place. The room was elegant, too elegant. Spacious, with a massive bed draped in velvet covers, high ceilings, and luxurious chandeliers. Everything looked like it came straight from a magazine. But something was off. The windows were sealed shut. The door was locked. My chest tightened. I called out for help, my voice echoing against the pristine walls. No answer. I ran to the windows, tried the handles, nothing. I tugged at the door, slammed my fists against it, screamed until my throat burned.Raped. Robbed. And now kidnapped? What kind of cruel life is this? What did I do to deserve this? My knees buckled as panic took over. My mind screamed for answers, for escape. Then. I heard the click of the lock. The door opened. I stepped back, trying to defend myself, no matter what. Even if I was just a tiny woman, standing in the middle of all this with barely any chance to escape… Where the fuck did this even come from?! A man walked in, dressed i

POV: MELISAI feel anxious—no, more than that. I feel on edge, like any second he might do something terrifying. After all, he kidnapped me. After everything I've been through... the trauma, the pain, the violence—I don't even know what hope is anymore.And really, what makes me so special, anyway?An orphan.No parents.No friends.No one was waiting for me.Invisible.Forgettable.Worthless.I stare at the plate in front of me. Waffles. Golden. Crisped on the edges. Hazelnuts. My favorite. I haven't had waffles in years. One bite, and the memories flood back. Sweetness and warmth, things I thought I'd forgotten how to feel. I didn't want to like it, hell, I told him it was disgusting, thinking maybe he'd hateme enough to let me go. But now... I'm crying. Silent tears. Not from fear this time, but from regret. Regret that I didn't finish the whole damn thing. It hurts to admit it... but I want more. Even though I don't know if it was poisoned, or drugged, or just part of his plan