Her Smile Was a Warning

The day had dragged on longer than I expected. Work was exhausting, but the real fatigue settled deep in my chest—the kind that comes from carrying a secret too heavy to share.

By the time I got home, the apartment was quiet, the soft glow of the city lights spilling through the windows. Justin was already there, sitting on the couch, looking up when I stepped in.

"Long day?" he asked, voice warm but tired.

I nodded, setting my bag down silently. I wanted to tell him everything—the messages, the warnings, the fear that clung to me like a shadow. But the words got stuck.

Instead, I forced a small smile and shrugged. "Yeah, just the usual."

He didn't press. Maybe he could tell something was wrong, but like me, he wasn't ready to break the silence.

I moved to the kitchen, unpacking the groceries we bought earlier, pretending to be busy. My fingers trembled when my phone buzzed in my pocket. I glanced at it, heart skipping as the screen lit up with another message:

"You're running out of time."

I swallowed hard and quickly slipped the phone back into my pocket before Justin could see.

He followed me quietly, sitting at the kitchen counter. "You're distant lately. If there's something—"

"I'm fine," I interrupted softly, looking down.

His eyes searched mine. "Maddie, I'm here. Whatever it is."

I wanted to believe him. I wanted to tell him the truth—the real truth buried beneath the lies. But I wasn't ready. Not yet.

"I know," I whispered, brushing his hand briefly before stepping back.

I could see the confusion and worry deepen in his eyes as I closed myself off again.

Later that night, I sat alone in the dark, phone in hand. The messages kept coming, urgent and cold. The past I thought I'd left behind was creeping closer—closer than ever.

And no matter how much I wanted to protect Justin, I feared the day the truth would finally surface.

Because when it does, nothing will ever be the same.