1 He's Back

(Valerie's Apartment, morning)

'The number you are trying to dial is either invalid or out of network coverage. Please try again later.'

"Ugh! Where the hell are you Bree?!"

This was the fifth time since Valerie's call couldn't connect. Bree, her only friend, and roommate is all good but she has a bad habit of going missing from time to time, or as Bree likes to call it going on "ME TRIPs". But this one is lasting longer than usual.

After trying a few more times Valerie thought to herself,

"Whatever… I won't be calling her anymore if she doesn't contact me first. "

Valerie gasps looking at her phone. It's already 8:45 am she is going to be late again. 3rd time in this month. She gets up from bed and gets ready in a dash.

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(Valerie's Office, morning)

Valerie punches her id and tries to get in as quietly as possible. But no. Her boss is standing right in front of her desk. As she gets closer she can clearly hear her boss grumble and Anthony trying his best to cover for her.

"Where is Ms. Hart? How come today is the last date yet her design hasn't been submitted yet?!"

"Sir, Valerie called me to tell you, she will be coming straight from her doctor's appointment so maybe she will be late."

"Still, she shouldn't fail deadlines!"

The flow of the conversation wasn't going well in her favor so Valerie cut in.

"Good morning, Sir!"

Everyone looked back hearing her loud greeting. She needs to step up otherwise Dereck will just chew her up and for worse, her pay can get cut for being late for the 3rd time in the same month.

"Sorry, the traffic was really bad today and I had to visit my doctor also."

"I don't care about the traffic. The clients are coming in an hour or two and I want to review your design before you present it to them."

"Ok sir. It's already been ready. I'll just mail it to you in 5 mins."

"Make it quick."

As Dereck left without being able to cause her much harm Valerie takes her seat and turns on her pc. Anthony slides beside her and asks quietly,

"What happened?"

"I don't know either. My insomnia is messing up my sleeping schedule and also Bree is still missing."

"Oh that sounds awful. Let me know if I can help you with something."

Valerie nods and goes back to her computer. She has to review the design and send it otherwise Dereck will come back growling. But as soon as she opens her pc she sees her desktop is totally empty and... She thinks,

"Is this some sort of practical joke my fate is playing?!"

Anthony notices Valerie shaking beside her.

"Hey! You okay?"

Valerie couldn't see anything because what is showing on her screen is taking her back to a place she worked really hard to come out of.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Looks like I forgot to save the final version and now I have to do it again."

"What is going on with you Val? You are being really scatterbrained these days. Wait I have a copy of your design in my system."

"The one I sent you yesterday?"

"Yeah. I'll mail it to you wait."

"Thanks, Anny, you are an angel!"

Valerie goes to get herself coffee because she needs to get it together. It's been already two years. She needs to stay strong. He can't even fathom her being a web designer in this part of the world. Still seeing red roses takes her back to the days she wants to erase from her life. But she is really confused about how her final version got deleted and a bouquet of red roses is her wallpaper now. She decides to ask Dereck about this if he knows something or not.

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(Outside Valerie's Office, evening)

The weird things that happened in the morning caused Valerie to slow down and it's already 8 pm. She always tries to get back within 6 but today of all days she is late. Even Bree isn't home. Valerie books a cab to get back as fast as possible.

While waiting for the cab she thinks about how Dereck was all clueless about the things that happened to her pc. She tries not to think of the days she is trying to run away from. Maybe not the days but the person she was with on those days, Bryce Carter, a part of her life which she wishes to erase. Those rosy days they spent turned bloody because of her cluelessness. Valerie puts a stop to her rushing thoughts as she sees her cab coming from afar.

She gets in and repeats her therapist's words in her brain,

"It was not your fault! Bad things happen. you have to keep moving forward."

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(Outside Valerie's Apartment, evening)

While pressing her password on the keypad Valerie felt like someone is watching her. She checks her surroundings but no, no one is to be seen. She shakes her head and opens the door. It's really dark inside so she knows one thing for sure is Bree isn't back yet.

She puts her bag down and opens the refrigerator to get some water. Her brain worked too much today it needs some rest now. Valerie plops down on the couch as she has not much power left to move. But then she gets up, she feels an urge to to take a shower.

As soon as Valerie turns the knob of her bedroom door what she sees in front of her is something she worked so hard on to not see again. She rushes outside while feeling shortness of breath. She stumbles upon things and unlocks the door. She feels the utmost urge to get out of there. She collapses down in the hallway but gets back up crawling. She thinks to herself as the world is getting foggy in front of her eyes,

"I can't lose consciousness right now. I have to get out!"

But Valerie can't control her panic attacks. She was never able to. She collapses right in front of the elevator's door.