SASHA’S POV
I arrived back home feeling both relieved and unsettled. The night had been emotionally taxing, filled with highs and lows I hadn’t anticipated.
Being back within the familiar walls of my home, I hoped to find some semblance of peace.
Yet, an ache lingered in my chest, one I couldn’t quite place. Shaking off the sensation, I decided to throw myself into work.
The moment I sat down at my desk, my laptop blinked to life, and I dove into the world of my online business.
Emails needed responses, inventory required updating, and customer inquiries flooded in, begging for my attention.
I welcomed the distraction, hoping it would anchor my mind away from the swirling chaos of thoughts.
Minutes turned into hours as I became absorbed in the rhythm of tasks. The steady tap of my fingers on the keyboard filled the room, creating a soothing cadence.
I updated the website with a new product launch and drafted a newsletter to announce it. My focus was unwavering until my phone buzzed on the desk, its vibration jolting me from my work trance.
Picking up the device, I saw my father’s name flash across the screen. A smile tugged at my lips as I answered.
“Hi, Dad,” I greeted, leaning back in my chair.
“Sasha, my girl,” he replied warmly. His voice, though still carrying the faint rasp of recovery, was much stronger than before.
“I wanted to call and thank you for visiting me earlier. It means the world to me.”
“You don’t need to thank me, Dad. I’ll always be there for you,” I said sincerely.
“I know, sweetheart,” he chuckled softly, the sound comforting.
“But I also wanted to ask you to thank Roland for the meal he brought me today. It was delicious, and it lifted my spirits.”
I frowned, surprised. “Roland brought you a meal?”
“Yes,” my father confirmed. “He stopped by earlier and said he wanted to do something kind for an old man stuck in a hospital bed. It was thoughtful of him.”
“That was kind of him,” I murmured, making a mental note to express my gratitude to Roland later.
“But that’s not all,” my father continued, his tone turning slightly serious.
“I called to remind you to let Sebastian know I’ll be discharged tomorrow. I can’t wait to see him again and thank him for everything he’s done for me. He’s a good man, Sasha.”
Hearing my father speak so highly of Sebastian filled me with a mixture of pride and apprehension.
Despite the challenges in our marriage, Sebastian had always gone out of his way to ensure my father’s well-being, even when I hadn’t asked.
“I’ll remind him,” I promised.
“Good,” my father said, his voice softening again. “I’ll let you get back to work now. Take care of yourself, Sasha.”
“You too, Dad. Love you.”
“Love you too, my girl.”
As I ended the call, a strange sense of unease crept over me. My father’s words had brought me comfort, but something felt off. Shaking my head, I tried to dismiss the feeling as lingering exhaustion.
Returning my phone to the desk, I was about to dive back into work when a flicker of movement outside caught my eye.
My heart skipped a beat as I turned to the window, peering through the curtains into the dimly lit front lawn.
A shadow moved swiftly, just beyond the glow of the porch light. My pulse quickened.
It could have been a trick of the light, or perhaps an animal passing by, but the silhouette had seemed distinctly human.
I stood frozen for a moment, my mind racing with possibilities. Was someone out there? And if so, why?
Grabbing my phone, I quickly dialed Roland. If anyone could handle this situation, it was him.
The phone rang twice before he answered. “Sasha?”
“Roland,” I said, my voice trembling slightly. “There’s someone outside my house. I saw a shadow on the lawn.”
His tone shifted instantly, becoming calm and authoritative. “Stay inside. Lock your doors and windows. I’ll be there in five minutes.”
“Okay,” I whispered, my grip tightening on the phone.
“Don’t hang up,” he instructed. “Tell me what you see.”
I moved cautiously to the window, keeping my movements as quiet as possible. Peering out again, I scanned the area, but the shadow was gone. The lawn lay empty under the faint glow of the porch light.
“I don’t see anything now,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Good. Stay away from the windows,” Roland said firmly. “I’m on my way.”
Ending the call, I locked every door and window in the house, my hands trembling as I worked. My mind raced with worst-case scenarios. Was it a burglar? Or something more sinister?
The minutes stretched on, each one feeling like an eternity. I tried to calm my racing heart by reminding myself that Roland was on his way, but the silence in the house was deafening.
Every creak and groan of the floorboards seemed amplified, making me jump at the smallest sound.
Finally, the sound of a car engine pulling into my driveway broke the tension. Peering cautiously through the curtains, I saw Roland stepping out of his car, his expression focused and determined.
He carried himself with the confidence of someone who had seen and handled far worse situations.
I rushed to the door, unlocking it just as he reached the porch.
“Did you see anything else?” he asked, stepping inside and scanning the area.
“No,” I said, my voice shaky. “It was just that one shadow, but it felt… off.”
Roland nodded, his eyes narrowing as he moved past me into the living room. “Stay here. I’ll check the perimeter.”
I watched as he disappeared out the door, his movements swift and purposeful. Alone again, the unease returned, settling heavily in my chest.
Minutes later, Roland reentered, shaking his head. “The perimeter’s clear. If someone was here, they’re gone now.”
“Do you think it was anything serious?” I asked, hugging myself for comfort.
“It’s hard to say,” he admitted, his tone cautious. “But it’s better to be safe than sorry. I’ll stay for a while, just in case.”
Relief washed over me at his words. Having Roland here made me feel safer, though the lingering fear of the unknown still gnawed at me.
We sat in the living room, the silence between us heavy but not uncomfortable. Roland kept his eyes on the windows, his posture alert.
“Thank you for coming so quickly,” I said after a while, breaking the quiet.
“Always,” he replied simply, his gaze unwavering.
As the night wore on, the initial panic began to fade, replaced by exhaustion. Despite my fear, I felt a sense of gratitude for Roland’s presence. Whatever had been out there, I knew I wasn’t facing it alone.
Still, as I glanced toward the window one last time, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just the beginning.