Chapter 34

Outside the office building, Eric sat in the driver’s seat, his hands gripping the steering wheel. His index finger tapped lightly, betraying the anxiety gnawing at him inside. He was waiting for Stella to finish work. He was going to pick her up and take her home. People came and went, their expressions ranging from excitement to urgency, from frustration to joy. Some walked slowly, others rushed past in a hurry... But none of them were her. None of them were Stella. Eric shut his eyes for a moment, the panic and unease inside him slowly rising, pulling him deeper into a swamp of doubt. He couldn’t understand why he felt this way. She was just going back to work, after all. Then, he saw her emerge from the company’s front door. She was still wearing the yellow and white dress from this morning, making her look as lively and bright as ever. Eric’s eyes softened into a smile. But then... he noticed the tall figure standing behind her, and his smile instantly faded.