Page 135 of Before Dawn

The drive to work felt different today. Mikkel sat in the driver’s seat, his hesitation palpable. His hand twitched by his side, like he wanted to reach out but wasn’t sure how, or if I’d even let him. For the first time, we drove in complete silence, the absence of our usual playlist making the quiet almost deafening.

I kept my eyes fixed on the road, watching the city blur past. I felt his gaze on me—brief glances from the corner of my eye—but I couldn’t bring myself to meet them. Not yet. My thoughts were too tangled, my emotions too raw.

The silence stretched all the way to Book Culture. When the car finally rolled to a stop at the curb, we both moved to speak, but the words faltered and died before they could form.

For now, I had to go to work, even if I had no idea what came next.

The day was slow, or maybe it just felt that way because my mind refused to stop spinning. Every time I passed a mirror or glanced at a reflection in the glass doors, I found myself pausing, as if I could see something in my own eyes that wasn’t quite right.

Mikkel’s messages popped up, one after another, each one seemingly more apologetic than the last.Baby, I’m sorry...I’m sorry I made you feel unsafe...Please talk to me.

I didn’t know how to respond. I wanted to, I really did, but I couldn’t bring myself to type out the words.What could I say that wouldn’t sound like a lie?

I was almost halfway through checking the stock when a coworker popped their head around the corner.

“Hey, Abigail. Someone’s outside to see you.”

I set the clipboard down and raised an eyebrow. A visitor? I hadn’t been expecting anyone. Frowning, I followed her out, scanning the area.Then I spotted a man in a dark suit, standing by a black car—far too formal for a casual visit.

“Ms. Abigail?” he asked, his voice polite but firm.

I blinked, taken off guard. “Yeah?”

He extended a small bag and a bouquet of flowers, a slight smile on his lips. The moment I saw the arrangement—primroses and yellow roses arranged together beautifully—I knew this was from Mikkel.

“Mr. Suarez sent me to give these to you.”

“Thanks,” I replied, taking the items from him. He gave me a slight nod before turning back to the car, leaving me standing there, thoughts swirling in chaos.

I took a deep breath, pushing the tension aside as I returned to finish my shift. The store was quieter now, and thankfully, someone had come in an hour earlier to cover for me. Relieved, I grabbed my bag and the flowers, heading for the door, eager to finally go home.

But as I stepped onto the curb, my gaze landed on a black Bentley parked a few feet away, one of Mikkel’s license plates unmistakable. My steps faltered, unease prickling at the back of my neck. I froze, staring at the car, and then the door opened. A man stepped out.

“Ms. Abigail?” he asked respectfully.

I nodded. “Yes?”

“Mr. Suarez sent me to get you. He’s at a meeting in Jersey City, so he won’t be able to get you tonight.”

“Alright, then.”

As I slid into the car and dialed my sister’s number, the call rang a few times before she picked up. Aurora’s voice came through just as I lifted the screen, seeking a moment of solitude to catch my breath.

“What happened?” Aurora asked immediately, always sensing when something was wrong, even before I could find the words.

“I need to talk. Are you free?” I asked, my fingers gripping the phone a little too tightly.

“I’m free.”

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing thoughts. “Something happened today… and I don’t know how to feel.”

I exhaled slowly, gathering my thoughts. “He got so angry, Aurora. I’ve never seen him like that before. He was on a work call, and it was like… like he wasn’t even himself. It scared me. I just… I’m so anxious, and it brought back all these memories of how Joshua used to get…”

I stopped, letting out a shaky breath. “It felt too familiar... like I was right back in that dark place. I... I felt like I was suffocating.”

There was a pause before Aurora spoke, her tone calm but steady. “I’m listening, Abi. Keep going.”

I took another breath, trying to hold myself together. “I don’t want to push him away, but I thought we were dif—”

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