Page 74 of Ghost Of You
Finally, I turn onto our street, the familiar row of houses lined up like silent sentinels in the night. Our house comes into view, its windows dark, no sign of life within. My heart sinks a little further. If the lights are off, there are only two possibilities: she’s either not home yet, or she’s asleep, unaware of the messages that have piled up on her phone.
With a quick turn of the key, I step into the house, the familiar creak of the front door echoing in the silent hallway. I lock the door behind me, my movements hurried, as if speed might somehow change the outcome. The house feels eerily quiet, the kind of silence that amplifies every creak of the floorboards as I rush up the stairs, my heart pounding louder with each step.
Reaching the bedroom, I push the door open, and the dim light from the street outside spills through the open curtains, casting long shadows across the room. The bed, usually a comforting sight, now looks cold and empty, the sheets undisturbed. My chest tightens as I take in the scene. Where is she?
I pull my phone from my pocket, my thumb hovering over the call button as I weigh my options. Maybe she’s just stuck at work, caught up in something that’s kept her longer than expected. But then, why wouldn’t she text? She always lets me know if she’s running late, especially now, with the baby on the way.
The unease in my gut twists tighter, a deep, unsettling feeling that something isn’t right. Ignoring the rational voice in my headtelling me to wait, I follow my instincts and press the call button, bringing the phone to my ear.
"We're sorry, but the number you have called has been disconnected."
The automated voice, cold and indifferent, echoes in my ear as I pull the phone away, staring at the screen in disbelief. I try again, and again, each time met with the same chilling message. My breath catches in my throat, a tightness spreading across my chest as my heart races, pounding in my ears like a relentless drumbeat.
“What the fuck’s happening?” I mutter to myself, my voice shaky with rising panic. This has never happened before—her number has never been disconnected, not even for a moment. The uncertainty gnaws at me, the sense that something is terribly wrong sinking in deeper with each failed call.
Desperation begins to claw at the edges of my mind. I know it’s too soon to declare her missing, that the police would likely brush me off with a cold reminder about the twenty-four-hour rule. But I can’t just sit here and do nothing. My mind races through the possibilities, trying to find a reason, an explanation that makes sense.
I decide to call my mum, even when I'm angry at her and confused as to why she's keeping secrets. Maybe, just maybe, Laelia got in touch with her, or maybe she knows something I don’t. The phone rings, each tone stretching longer than the last, but there’s no answer. Frustration bubbles up inside me, mixing with the fear that’s quickly turning into full-blown panic.
When your parent doesn’t pick up, it feels like the world’s about to end, but if you miss their call, you’re in deep trouble. Now, though, with every unanswered ring, I feel my blood boiling, the pain in my chest growing sharper.
I’m about to call Ethan, thinking maybe he’s heard from her or might have some idea of what to do, but before I can pressthe button, my phone lights up with an incoming call. My mum’s name flashes across the screen, and I feel a momentary wave of relief wash over me, quickly replaced by the fear of what she might say.
With a trembling hand, I swipe to answer, bringing the phone to my ear. “Hello?” My voice is tight, barely holding back the panic that’s threatening to spill over.
"Hi sweetie, you okay?" my mum’s voice comes through, soft but tinged with concern.
"Have you heard anything from Laelia?" I ask, cutting straight to the point, hoping she’ll have some reassuring news.
She sighs, a heavy sound that makes my heart sink. "Killian, sweetie," she starts, her voice trembling slightly.
My chest tightens even more. "What's wrong, Mum?" I ask, anxiety creeping in at the sound of her voice breaking.
"The accident," she begins, her voice thick with emotion, and I swear I hear the threat of tears.
My stomach drops. "What accident?" I ask, panic rising.
"Laelia, she—"
Before she can finish, I hear the front door creak open. Lowering the phone from my ear, I hurry down the stairs, and there she is—Laelia, standing in the hallway, drenched from head to toe. I hadn't even noticed it was raining. Relief floods through me, washing away the fear that had been building up.
I quickly bring the phone back to my ear. "It's fine, Mum. I'm just over-stressing. I love you," I say, eager to end the call and focus on the fact that Laelia is standing right in front of me.
"Killian," she says urgently, "we need to talk."
"Everything's fine, mum and don't worry, we'll talk soon. I just need time. I love you," I say quickly, and hang up before she can say anything more.
I hurry down the last few steps, urgency in every stride, and sweep Laelia into my arms, not bothered by the fact thatshe's drenched. The moment I hold her close, her warmth and softness against me, the tight knot in my chest begins to unravel. Her presence alone melts away the tension and chaos, replacing it with a profound sense of relief and connection.
Her arms wrap around me with the same intensity, and for the first time in hours, I feel a profound sense of release, as if I can finally exhale. I pull back just enough to look at her, my fingers tenderly brushing the wet strands of hair from her face. I need to see her clearly, to anchor myself in her presence and let her calm wash over me.
"Where have you been, beautiful?" I ask softly, relief mingling with the remnants of my earlier fear.
"Sorry, I ended up working late," she replies, her voice calm and steady.
"I’ve texted you multiple times and tried calling, but it said your number was disconnected," I say, the confusion still lingering in the back of my mind.
She lets out a light laugh. "The kids kept me busy all day, and then they decided to have a water fight. My phone got soaked and broke during the chaos," she explains quickly.