As the night drew to a close and the guests began to leave, I returned to my room, bidding farewell to Andy and Mrs Monika. I didn't see Rayan for the rest of the night and for some reason I was thankful for it. As I returned to the walled confines of my room the green box and the envelope I had received from Nina greeted me from their place on my dressing table.

They were not forgotten, just missed and postponed amidst all the excitement and preparation for Andi's birthday. The box's intricate carvings caught the light, and the envelope lay beside it, a reminder of the past waiting to be faced.

I sank onto my bed, the events of the day replaying in my mind. The laughter and joy of Andi's surprise party, the way her eyes had lit up with delight, the warmth of Mrs Monika's hugs, and the camaraderie of friends and family filled my heart with a bittersweet ache.

The encounter with Rayan lingered in my thoughts, his arms around me, the intensity of the moment, and the unspoken emotions that had hung between us.

The green box seemed to beckon me. Inside lay remnants of a past I had cherished-notes, photographs, personal items that once belonged to Leon. The envelope, with Leon's neat handwriting on the front, was a lifeline to a world that no longer existed, that I wasn't sure if I belonged anymore or wanted to return.

If life was a tapestry, then mine was a piece woven with threads of both vibrant colour and deep shadows. Each thread represented a moment, a memory, a person who had touched my heart.

Some threads were bright and joyful, like the times spent with Leon, our laughter and dreams intertwining seamlessly. Others were dark and heavy, the losses and sorrows that had left their mark.

But in the grand design, every thread had its place. The bright ones made the dark ones bearable, and the dark ones gave depth to the light. Without one, the other would lose its meaning. Maybe I had been focusing too much on the darker threads lately, letting them overshadow the beauty and love that still existed in my life.

Leon had always been my anchor, my constant in a sea of uncertainty. His absence had left a void, but his love had also left a legacy. He would want me to continue living, to keep weaving my tapestry with new threads of hope and happiness. He would want me to embrace the new beginnings and make a difference, just as Rayan had reminded me.

It wasn't going to be easy. The pain of losing Leon was still raw, and the thought of moving forward without him felt like an insurmountable task. But I had people who cared about me, who supported me-Rayan, Mrs Monika, Andi, and my colleagues. They were the strongest threads in my tapestry, each bringing their own colour and texture, helping me create a new pattern.

Taking a deep breath, I steady my heart to read the letter. The night had been filled with memories and emotions, and perhaps it was time to face the words Leon had left for me.

I walked over to the dressing table, my heart pounding in my chest. I picked up the envelope, feeling its weight in my hands, the paper smooth and cool against my skin.

Slowly, I sat back down on the bed, the envelope trembling slightly in my fingers. I took another deep breath, steeling myself for whatever the letter might contain.

The room was quiet, the only sound the distant murmur of the last guests leaving, and the steady beat of my own heart. I slipped a finger under the flap of the envelope, carefully tearing it open, and pulled out the folded paper inside. Unfolding it, I began to read, feeling Leon's presence in every word.

"My Dearest Sara," It read.

"I miss you so much. I don't know if I'll be here when you read this, but I hope you're living each day to the fullest. Your smile is my sunshine, so please keep shining for me.

I've arranged for you to stay with Mrs Monika while I'm gone. She's kind and will take good care of you, even better than I could. There's so much I want to tell you, but now isn't the right time. I'm on a dangerous mission, and I've risked everything to achieve our goal. But I won't risk losing you.

I'm really sorry for leaving you like this. I know you might feel alone and scared without me, but I promise I'll come back for you as soon as I can. Please don't lose hope. Be brave and strong, my girl. I know you can do it.

I love you more than words can say...

Yours always, Leon."

***

Earth to Madame," Rayan's voice sliced through the haze of my thoughts, dragging me back into the room.

I blinked, disoriented. The conference room's low hum of murmurs and rustling papers snapped into focus. Everyone was staring—some curious, others impatient. My stomach twisted. How long had I been zoned out? We were supposed to be discussing the upcoming broadcast, but my mind had wandered so far that I couldn't even remember where we'd left off.

"You okay, Ms. Sara?" Dani asked, concern softening his voice as he leaned forward. "Should we take a break? You look... drained."

"No, I'm fine," I said quickly, though the warmth crawling up my neck told another story. "Sorry about that. Where were we?"

I fumbled with the papers in front of me, trying to regain control of the situation. Instead, I made it worse, scattering them across the desk. My clumsy attempt at damage control earned a few subtle sighs, averted gazes, and—out of the corner of my eye—Rayan pinching the bridge of his nose.

The sound of his chair scraping against the floor cut through the tension like a blade. Without a word, he grabbed my wrist and led me out of the room. The sliding glass doors hissed shut behind us, muffling the conference room's chatter. Out in the quiet corridor, he finally let go. His frustration was evident in the tight set of his jaw.

"Seriously, Sara? What's going on with you? You've been checked out for weeks, and now, in the middle of a critical meeting—" He stopped himself, exhaling sharply as he ran a hand through his hair. "We can't afford this, Sara. We're all trying to hold things together, but you... you're not even here."

I opened my mouth to respond, but he cut me off. "I get it, you've got a lot on your mind. But you can't keep dragging everyone down because you're lost in whatever nightmare you've got brewing in your head. We're all in this together, and right now, it feels like you're not even here."

Ever since the incident at the party, there had been subtle shifts in him, like the soft ripples of a disturbed pond. He had always been the calm anchor in the storm, a steady presence amidst chaos. But lately, there was an edge to him, a strain that hadn't been there before. It wasn't brutality or aggression—Rayan was never one to be violent or harsh. His frustration, though palpable, was a reflection of his concern and worry, not anger.

His eyes were intense, burning with a mixture of frustration and concern. "You've got to snap out of it, Sara. Whatever's eating at you, it's bleeding into everything—and it's affecting all of us."

I opened my mouth to defend myself, but the words wouldn't come. The truth was, he was right. I could feel the sting of his words settling in my chest like a dull ache.

The weight of his words settled heavily on my chest. With a tremor in my voice, I turned to him. "Rayan, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to be a mess today. I just... I don't know what's happening to me. I'm trying, but I'm failing. I know you're frustrated, and you have every right to be. I'm really sorry for dragging you into this." My eyes were filled with tears, and my voice broke as I spoke.

Rayan took a deep breath, his expression softening but still strained. He looked at me with a mixture of sadness and resolve. "Look," he said, more gently now. "I know you've got a lot on your mind. But you need to sort it out. Take a break. Do whatever you need to do. Just... get it together, okay? We'll talk when you're ready."

He didn't wait for a response, turning and walking away. I stood there, rooted to the spot, watching him disappear down the corridor.

***

The evening dragged on as I tried to collect myself in my cubicle. The hum of the office had long faded, replaced by the ticking of the clock and the soft clatter of my keyboard as I immersed myself in the work I had missed. Pages of documents were reviewed, emails were sent, and the stacks of papers gradually dwindled as I stayed late, pushing through the fatigue.

When I finally looked up, the clock on my screen read an hour that most sensible people would already be home. I wondered if Rayan was still in his cabin, knowing he often stayed late but guessing he might have already left I considered my options—leave the files on his desk and inform him via a text, or simply meet him tomorrow morning. Deciding on the former, I gathered the documents and headed towards his cabin.

The semi-frosted glass walls revealed his silhouette, still seated at his desk. Our eyes met through the dimly lit office, and I felt a pang of guilt. I bought myself a moment to prepare myself to face him again as I reached the door. A janitor passed by with a mop and a bucket, and we exchanged brief smiles. Taking a deep breath, I knocked on the door.

"Come in..."

He watched me silently as I entered his cabin. I hesitated. "Rayan, I'm really sorry about earlier," I began, my voice barely above a whisper. "I know I've been distracted and it's affecting my work. I promise I'll do better."

Rayan remained silent, his expression unreadable. I felt a knot of worry tighten in my chest. "I just... I want to—"

He raised a hand, stopping me mid-sentence and waved at me dismissively. His eyes were set on the window that looked out to the night city, a tapestry of a thousand tiny lights. The reflection of me standing beside his desk flickered faintly in the glass. "I know. We all have moments. It's fine."

His behaviour only intensified the pang in my heart. We had worked together for almost a decade now, and this wasn't the first time a slight disagreement had happened between us. Most of the time, it had been Rayan's mistakes, and I had taken the privilege to scold him as I pleased. It wasn't out of malice—mostly playful banter back and forth to establish who was right and who was wrong. Such matters never lasted long, usually ending with an ice cream break or a drink at the Downtown bar. Now that I was in the wrong, I hoped it would end the way it used to before. But then again, a lot of things had changed.

"It's not fine. You're still mad," I blurted out, earning his immediate attention.

"I'm not mad, Sara," he said gently. "In fact, I should be apologising too for how I reacted this afternoon." Then he noticed the stack of documents I was cradling. "You got them done," he commented with a slight smile, gesturing for me to put them down on the table.

"It won't happen again," I said, not meeting his eyes as I neatly placed them on his desk. I could feel his gaze on me, intense and searching. Then he started again.

"Sara, if you don't mind me asking..." He paused, and I looked up at him, raising a brow.

"Do you... what do you think about paranormal entities?" he asked, his tone unexpectedly serious.

I blinked. "I—what?"

"I mean, Sara..." he said, almost hesitating. "Do you believe in ghosts?"