*****

The hospital room was steeped in shadows, the faint light from the corridor barely breaking through the gloom. The hum of distant machinery filled the silence, punctuated only by the rhythmic rise and fall of Heidi's breathing. Her chest moved in slow, shallow motions, her pale face bathed in the cold, sterile glow of the heart monitor. The air was heavy, laced with the scent of disinfectant and an undertone of something faintly metallic.

Her fingers twitched.

A small movement, almost imperceptible, followed by the slow flutter of her eyelids. Her lashes brushed against her cheeks as her eyes opened, staring blankly at the ceiling. For a long moment, she blinked—once, twice, again—her face devoid of expression, her thoughts a million miles away. The ceiling tiles blurred into nothingness as she kept her gaze fixed upward, unseeing, unfeeling.

The door creaked open. Footsteps echoed softly against the linoleum floor, each step deliberate yet hesitant, breaking the stillness like a ripple across a quiet lake. Heidi didn’t turn her head, didn’t flinch. She kept blinking, her breath steady, her body motionless.

Smith’s voice cut through the silence, low and cautious. “Are you okay?”

No response.

He moved closer, standing by her bedside, his tall frame casting a shadow over her. His brows furrowed, his face caught somewhere between concern and unease. “I know something happened,” he said, his voice gentler now. “I know you can’t talk about it. But if there’s any way I can help you, Heidi… you just need to say the word.”

For a moment, it seemed she wouldn’t answer. Her lips remained still, pressed into a pale, emotionless line. Then, they parted. Her voice emerged, raw and brittle, like a thread barely holding itself together.

“I want a new face.”

The words were simple but devastating. A request, a plea, a declaration. Smith froze, his breath hitching as the gravity of her words sank in. His eyes searched hers, but she still didn’t look at him. Her gaze remained fixed on the ceiling, her expression unreadable.

He swallowed hard, his jaw tightening as he nodded. “Okay.”

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the hospital window, streaking the floor with golden patterns. Dust motes floated lazily in the air, caught in the warm glow. The remnants of breakfast sat untouched on the bedside table—a simple box with a cup of lukewarm tea beside it. The room felt strangely peaceful, almost serene.

Silas entered with his usual energy, his face lit with a bright smile. “Good morning, Heidi,” he said cheerfully as he stepped inside. But his words fell into the empty space, unanswered.

His smile faltered.

The bed was empty, the sheets neatly folded, and the chair in the corner was vacant. Silas’s eyes darted around the room, his chest tightening with a sudden, unshakable dread. His gaze fell on the breakfast box, sitting there like an abandoned clue. The bathroom door was slightly ajar.

He rushed to it, yanking it open.

Empty.

His heart raced, the blood in his veins pumping hot with panic. He staggered back, pulling out his phone with trembling fingers. The number he dialed was answered on the second ring.

“Aunt,” he barked, his voice laced with urgency. “Did you take her home?”

There was a pause. Then her voice came through the line, hesitant and shaky. “No, Silas. It was Smith. He came late last night. Heidi…” Her voice cracked. “She threatened us—with her life. She said we had no choice but to let her go.”

The phone slipped slightly in Silas’s grip. His knuckles whitened as rage flooded his chest, drowning out every other thought. “What?” he shouted, his voice shaking the room. “You let her go with him?!”

Before she could respond, he hurled the phone across the room. It shattered against the wall, the pieces scattering like glass shards from a broken mirror. His hands fisted at his sides as his breath came in short, angry bursts. The breakfast box caught his eye, a mocking reminder of her absence. He snatched it up and flung it into the trash, the sound of the box hitting the bin reverberating like a gunshot.

After 3 weeks

Meanwhile, in a clinic far away, Heidi sat in silence. The sterile scent of rubbing alcohol filled the air, mingling with the faint hum of fluorescent lights above. Bandages crisscrossed her face, covering every inch of her skin like a mask. Days had passed in this room, days filled with nothing but stillness and the muffled voices of doctors discussing procedures she barely cared to understand.

Now, Smith stood behind her, his reflection barely visible in the mirror. His hands were steady but hesitant as he began removing the final layer of bandages. One by one, they peeled away, revealing raw, pink skin beneath. The cold air kissed her exposed face, sending a shiver down her spine.

Heidi’s heart raced as the last piece was removed.

She blinked at the stranger in the mirror. Her reflection stared back at her—a face she didn’t recognize, a face that belonged to someone else. Her fingers rose slowly, trembling as they hovered over her cheekbones, her jawline, her lips. When she touched her new skin, it felt alien, unfamiliar, like it didn’t belong to her.

Her lips parted, but no words came. A lump formed in her throat, heavy and suffocating, as her eyes filled with tears. This was what she wanted, wasn’t it? A new face, a new identity, a chance to escape.

But as she stared into the mirror, a single tear rolled down her cheek. It was beautiful, tragic, and heartbreaking all at once. She had left behind her old life, but somewhere deep inside, she couldn’t escape the feeling that she had also left behind a part of herself.

Smith’s voice broke the silence, soft but firm. “It’s done.”

Heidi didn’t answer. She only stared at the reflection in front of her, the stranger staring back, and wondered if this new face would ever feel like hers.

The heavy silence in the room shattered as Kacy burst through the door, her chest heaving and her voice trembling with urgency. “Silas is here!” she exclaimed, her words tumbling out like a desperate warning. “He brought men with him! He knows she’s here!”

Heidi’s heart stopped mid-beat, her breath catching in her throat. For a moment, it was as if the world had gone silent, the only sound the erratic pounding of her heart. Her eyes darted to Smith, whose expression instantly hardened. His jaw tightened, and without hesitation, he grabbed her hand, his grip firm yet steady, like a lifeline.

“We need to move. Now,” he said, his voice low but sharp, cutting through the haze of her panic.

Heidi barely had time to register what was happening before Smith tugged her forward. Her feet stumbled at first, her knees weak with fear, but she forced herself to follow. The air in the room was suffocating, heavy with tension and the looming threat of Silas’s arrival. She glanced back at Kacy, whose wide eyes were brimming with worry, her lips parted as though she wanted to say something more. But no words came. There wasn’t time.

Smith led her through the narrow back hallway, his pace urgent yet controlled. When they reached the exit, Smith turned abruptly, pulling a thick wad of cash from his pocket. He shoved it into Heidi’s trembling hands, the weight of the bills alien in her grip.

“Take this,” he said, his voice softer now but no less insistent. His dark eyes bore into hers, filled with a mix of desperation and determination. “I know you came here with nothing. Just let me help you, Heidi, even if you hate it.”

She stared at the money, her fingers tightening around it. Her lips parted, but no words came out. The lump in her throat made it impossible to speak. She wanted to refuse, to throw the money back at him, but deep down, she knew he was right. She had no other choice. Her pride was a small price to pay for survival.

Smith’s expression softened for a moment, his thumb brushing over her knuckles as he added, “Disappear. Go somewhere far away where he can’t find you. Don’t come back, Heidi. Not this time.”

Her chest ached at his words, but she nodded. Turning away, she ran. The cool night air hit her like a slap, sharp and biting against her flushed skin. Her feet pounded against the cracked pavement, her breaths coming in short, ragged gasps. The world blurred around her, her only focus on the path ahead. She didn’t look back—not at Smith, not at the life she was leaving behind. She ran with nothing but the money in her hand and the weight of her shattered world on her shoulders.

Smith stood frozen in the doorway, watching her disappear into the night. The dim glow of the streetlights caught the shine of his unshed tears, but he didn’t move to wipe them away. He didn’t move at all until her figure was swallowed by the darkness, and even then, he lingered, his hand still resting on the doorframe.

The sound of heavy footsteps behind him made him turn, and before he could react, a fist collided with his cheek. The impact sent him reeling backward, his shoulder slamming into the wall. Pain shot through his jaw, sharp and hot, and he tasted blood on his tongue.

“Where is she?” Silas growled, his voice low and venomous, as he grabbed Smith by the collar and yanked him forward. His eyes were wild, burning with fury, and his grip was like iron.

Smith coughed, the metallic tang of blood thick in his mouth. He forced himself to meet Silas’s gaze, his expression calm despite the pain radiating through his face. “Gone,” he said simply, his voice hoarse but steady.

Silas’s eyes narrowed, his nostrils flaring. “Don’t lie to me,” he hissed, his grip tightening. “Where is she?!”

Smith smirked, though it hurt to do so. “No wonder she didn’t want to stay with you,” he said, his tone sharp and cutting. “You don’t even see it, do you? You’re the reason she ran.”

The words hit Silas like a slap, and for a brief moment, something flickered in his eyes—doubt, perhaps, or the faintest hint of regret. But it was gone in an instant, replaced by unrelenting anger. His fist connected with Smith’s face again, and this time, the force of the blow sent him to the floor.

“Stop!” Kacy’s voice rang out, high and frantic, as she threw herself between them. Her hands pressed against Silas’s chest, her small frame trembling with fear. “She’s gone, Silas! Do you hear me? She left! You can’t find her! Just let her go!”

Silas’s breath came in sharp bursts, his chest rising and falling as he stared at Kacy. His hands dropped to his sides, but his fists remained clenched, his knuckles white. “She’s gone?” he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper, as though he couldn’t quite believe it.

“Yes,” Kacy said, her voice firm despite the tears in her eyes. “She’s gone. And you’re not going to find her. Not this time.”

Silas stepped back, his expression frozen in shock. He ran a hand through his hair, his fingers trembling slightly, and let out a sharp exhale. Without another word, he turned on his heel and stormed out of the building, his men following close behind.

The room was silent again, save for the faint sound of Smith coughing as he pushed himself up from the floor. Blood dripped from his split lip, staining the collar of his shirt, but he didn’t seem to care. His gaze drifted toward the door, the same one Heidi had disappeared through, and a faint, bittersweet smile crossed his face.

“She got away,” he murmured, his voice soft and almost inaudible.

Kacy knelt beside him, her hands trembling as she reached for his shoulder. “Are you okay?” she asked, her voice thick with worry.

Smith nodded, though his movements were sluggish. “I’m fine,” he said, his tone dismissive. His eyes flicked toward the doorway one last time. “At least… she’s safe. That’s all that matters.”

-----

The roads stretched endlessly in the dark, the faint glow of streetlights barely pushing back the shadows. Heidi walked alone, her scarf pulled high over her face, shielding her from the biting cold and the curious eyes of the occasional passerby. Her boots scuffed against the cracked asphalt, the ache in her feet growing with each step, but she pressed on. She had nowhere else to go. Nowhere except Izzy.

Izzy, her distant cousin. They never got along—years of petty fights and biting remarks had ensured that—but Heidi knew one thing about her. Beneath Izzy’s sharp words and fiery temperament lay a heart of gold. She was someone who would never turn away someone in need, even if that someone was Heidi.

Clutching onto that hope, she moved forward, her breath misting in the cold night air. Two hours passed, her legs trembling with exhaustion. The village was eerily silent, the only sounds the faint hum of wind and the occasional creak of an old streetlamp swaying overhead. The weight of her situation pressed down on her, and as the pain in her feet became unbearable, she collapsed onto a large rock at the side of the road.

Heidi stretched her back against the cold surface, the rough texture digging into her thin coat. She tilted her head, her weary eyes lifting to the sky. Vast and empty, the heavens loomed above her—a pitch-black canvas devoid of stars, only the pale glow of a hidden moon illuminating the edges of the clouds.

A soft smile broke across her lips. “I guess…” she murmured to herself, her voice barely a whisper, “Even in nothing, you can find a reason to smile.”

Her stomach rumbled, loud and hollow, snapping her back to reality. She rubbed her midsection absentmindedly, the sharp pang of hunger growing unbearable. The empty streets stretched before her, a desolate labyrinth with no end in sight. No people. No shelter. No help.

Forcing herself to her feet, Heidi pushed forward, her steps unsteady. She made it only a few more paces before the weakness in her legs buckled beneath her. Stumbling off the road, she slid down the trunk of a tree in the nearby woods. The bark scraped against her coat, its roughness grounding her as she hugged her knees to her chest.

Her hand instinctively went to her pocket, gripping the wad of cash Smith had given her. The crumpled bills pressed into her palm, their texture both a comfort and a reminder of her situation. Her eyes darted around nervously as she heard a distant rustle, her heart pounding against her ribcage.

Was someone there?

Her breath hitched, her body tensing. She scooted closer to the tree, clutching the money tighter. But after an agonizing hour of silence, the fear ebbed. Exhaustion seeped into her bones, and with a heavy breath, she rested her head against the tree trunk. The cold air pricked at her skin as her eyes fluttered shut.

The sun was warm, the sky a brilliant shade of blue as Heidi dug her hands into the sand. At eight years old, her world revolved around castles and fortresses, the grains slipping through her fingers as she molded them into walls and towers. Her laughter echoed across the park, but it faltered as a shadow fell over her.

“Heidi…”

She froze, her small shoulders tensing. Slowly, she glanced back over her shoulder. Silas stood there, a boy barely older than her, his dark hair a messy tangle and his eyes wide with guilt. Behind him, his mother, Morgan, was deep in conversation with Heidi’s mother, Kennedy, their laughter blending with the distant hum of the playground.

Heidi turned back to her castle, her fingers digging into the sand as she sulked. She didn’t want to see Silas, not after what had happened.

“I promise,” Silas said, his voice soft but earnest as he stepped closer, “I won’t hurt you again.”

Her hands stilled, the grains slipping through her fingers. She refused to look at him. The betrayal still stung. Silas had run away when the other kids had bullied her, leaving her to face their cruel words alone.

Silas knelt beside her, his knees sinking into the sand. His eyes were locked on her, unwavering, as though the entire world existed only in her expression. Tentatively, he reached out, his small hand patting her shoulder. “This time,” he said firmly, “I won’t run away. I’ll be there to protect you.”

Heidi’s jaw tightened. She turned to him, her young face hard with skepticism. Why should I believe you? You’ve already shown me that our friendship isn’t strong enough to keep me safe.

The weight of her words hit Silas like a blow. His head dropped, his fingers clutching at the hem of his shirt. “Then…” he mumbled, his voice barely audible, “then I’ll become your husband.”

The words hung in the air, heavy and unexpected. Heidi blinked, her lips parting in surprise. “What?” she asked, her tone laced with disbelief. "You’re ridiculous! Do you even hear yourself? What kind of solution is that?”

Silas nodded, his face serious, as though he had just made the most logical decision in the world. “It’s not ridiculous. My dad protects my mom because he’s her husband. That’s what gives him the strength. I need that too if I’m going to protect you.”

For a moment, Heidi stared at him in stunned silence. Then, a giggle bubbled up from her chest, breaking free into full-blown laughter. She fell back onto the sand, her small elbows propping her up as she looked at him with bright, teasing eyes. "And you think that’s all it takes? Just some... magical title?”

Silas shook his head, his expression unyielding. “It’s not just a title. It’s a bond. The strongest one there is. Don’t you want someone who’ll stand by you, no matter what?”

Heidi glanced over at her mother, who was smiling brightly, her laughter echoing as she chatted with Morgan. Something about the sight made her pause. Slowly, her fingers curled into the sand, her nails scratching against the grains.

“Stronger than friendship?” she asked quietly, her voice uncertain.

Silas nodded. “Yes. There’s no bond stronger than husband and wife. I swear it.”

Her eyes lit up with newfound excitement. Sitting up, she grabbed his hands in her small ones. “Then... I’ll be your wife! From this moment on!” she declared, her voice bright and triumphant.

Silas’s cheeks flushed a deep red, but he grinned, the wide, unfiltered smile of a boy who had just been handed the world. “You mean it?”

“Yes!” Heidi giggled, shaking his hands. “Only if you promise you’ll never run away again.”

“I promise. I won’t ever leave you.” Silas said, his voice steady, as if carving his words into stone.

*****