I started packing my things. Clothes, shoes, a few personal items. It wasn’t much, but it was all I had. I couldn’t stay here anymore. I didn’t know where I was going or what I was going to do, but anywhere was better than staying in this limbo.
As I shoved the last of my things into my suitcase, my hands trembled with frustration and pain. I wasn’t going to wait around for Giovanni to choose me.
Dragging my suitcase, I stepped out into the night, the city lights flickering like distant stars. The air was cool against my skin, the quiet streets a stark contrast to the noise swirling inside my head.
I walked aimlessly, trying to clear my thoughts, my mind buzzing with everything that had happened. I didn’t see the car speeding toward me. All I heard was the screech of tires, the blinding headlights rushing at me.
For a moment, time froze. I stood there, paralyzed, my body unable to move as the car came closer, inches from impact. It wasn’t until the last second that I stumbled backward, barely missing the collision by what felt like mere inches.
My heart raced, my legs shaking beneath me. I stood there on the sidewalk, panting, staring at the car as it sped off into the night, disappearing around a corner without a second thought.
I almost died, but it seemed it wasn't my time yet.
I started walking again, my legs still shaky from the near miss, but I stopped in my tracks when something strange caught my eye.
A black envelope lay on the ground, right where the speeding car had almost run me over. It definitely wasn’t there before. My breath caught in my throat as I bent down to pick it up. Something about it felt wrong. The envelope itself was smooth, expensive even, the kind of thing you’d expect for a formal invitation. But I was certain—the car had left it behind.
I hesitated for a moment before tearing it open. Inside was a single sheet of paper. The handwriting was sharp, angular, like someone had deliberately taken their time with each stroke.
[Leave while you can, or you won’t be so lucky next time.]
