pressing on my chest. But as soon as the lights went out, the fears came creeping back, lurking in the knocks at my door and the sound of rain against the windows.
They followed me everywhere, a shadow I couldn’t shake, and my productivity at work plummeted. Mistakes piled up one after another.
One night, after what felt like the hundredth bout of sleeplessness, my heart seized in sharp pain, and I ended up in the hospital.
Coincidentally, my boss was in the room next to mine, though her situation seemed worlds apart from mine. She was admitted to the urology department and had her daughter by her side at all times. In contrast, I was alone most of the time, save for the occasional visit from my best friend after her shifts.
The middle–aged detective stopped by sporadically, reminding me to stay local for now. “We’ve assigned someone to protect you,” he said. “If you leave the city and something happens, we might not make it in time.”
I nodded, assuring him my life was more important than my job.
But life, as it often does, has a way of testing resolve. The moment I was discharged, I was slapped with an unexpected assignment: a business trip to the neighboring province. My boss’s decision left no room for negotiation.
“I’m not sure I’m the best person for this,” I tried, hesitating. “I’ve never been there, and-”
She cut me off abruptly, her tone cold, as though I’d already let her down. “Fine. Don’t go then,” she said, her voice flat. I could almost hear the sting of disappointment.
“Wait,” I replied quickly, swallowing my hesitation. “I’ll go.”
“HR will send someone with you. You’ll meet them there,” she added before hanging up.
Before leaving, I called the detective. “I’m heading to the neighboring province for a business trip,” I said. “I’m a little uneasy about it.”
There was a pause before he answered. “I’m over there too for some work. Once I’m done, I’ll come find you. But listen, the local police are stretched thin dealing with the floods. You need to be extra careful.”
My best friend offered to come with me, but I turned her down. A recent text from her asking to borrow money lingered in my mind; I’d noticed her financial struggles but decided to address it after my trip.
At the client’s office, the day stretched into night with no resolution. By the time I returned to the hotel, the HR colleague had already checked me in.
As I retrieved my room key, I noticed the name on the booking. It was Lloyd.
“What a coincidence,” he said, flashing me a polite smile. “Our room numbers are almost identical. If anything comes up, feel free to reach out.”
I thanked him but couldn’t help wondering why someone from HR was even on this trip.
Back in my room, I wedged a doorstop under the door and double–checked the locks. I called my boss to update her on the dire state of the project. “The worst–case scenario is a complete loss,” I explained.
After a long pause, she made up her mind. “I’ll come over myself,” she said.
It would take five hours for her to get here by car. She’d arrive well past midnight.
