A letter to the post man

I lay on my bed, staring at the cracks on the ceiling, my mind heavy with thoughts. The events of the day replayed like a broken record, each detail more vivid than the last. My phone buzzed on the nightstand, jolting me from my daze.

It was Nath.

"Today was perfect. I can't stop thinking about you, Pearl."

His message glowed on the screen, and for a moment, I felt a small smile tugging at my lips. But as I read it again, the smile faded. My heart raced, and not in the way you'd expect. Something about his words stirred an unease within me. Staring at the message, my mind played tag with my heart, emotions battling logic. I wanted to reply, to let myself feel the happiness his words offered, but instead, I set the phone aside and lay back down, letting the tension dissolve into the stillness of the room.

Sleep found me eventually, but it wasn't peaceful.

The dream returned, more vivid and suffocating than ever before.

This time, I saw my mother. She stood in front of me, her face pale and streaked with tears. Her hands were trembling as she reached out to me, her sobs filling the air like an unbearable melody.

"Leave my husband alone," she cried, her voice breaking with each word. Her eyes, red and desperate, bore into mine.

"Mom?" I whispered, but my voice didn't carry. I tried to move toward her, to comfort her, but my legs felt like lead. The darkness around us thickened, her sobs echoing until they became a scream.

I woke up gasping, drenched in sweat, my chest rising and falling erratically.

"Reina!"a voice called out.

It was Archie. She was shaking me gently, her eyes wide with worry.

"Are you okay, sis? You were shaking in your sleep."

I forced a nod, wiping my damp forehead with shaky hands. "I'm fine," I said shortly, not wanting to burden her with my fears.

But Archie wasn't convinced. Without saying a word, she climbed into my bed and wrapped her arms around me.

"Don't be scared," she said softly, her voice calm and steady. She began to hum the familiar tune Mom used to sing whenever we were frightened.

"Don't worry about a thing, 'cause every little thing is gonna be alright…"

Her voice was soothing, wrapping around me like a warm blanket. Slowly, the tension in my chest eased. Her humming lulled me back to sleep, and this time, there were no dreams—just the comforting sound of my sister's voice.

I woke up early, the sun barely peeking over the horizon. Determined to shake off the remnants of the night, I threw myself into making breakfast for Alex and Archie.

In the kitchen, I decided on pancakes for Archie, her favorite, and drizzled them with honey. For Alex, who wasn't as easy to please, I whipped up waffles just the way he liked them—crisp and golden with a side of maple syrup.

Humming softly to myself, I didn't hear Alex come in until he spoke.

"What's got this drama queen so happy?" he teased, leaning against the doorway.

I turned, rolling my eyes at him. "Oh, I'm just thrilled to cook for my two angels," I replied dramatically, pinching Archie's cheeks as she walked in.

They ate quickly, and I got Archie ready for school. As I helped her pack her bag, I marveled at how different we were. Archie was brilliant, the kind of girl who could charm anyone with her quick wit and intelligence. She dreamed of becoming a lawyer, and I knew she would. I'd do anything to help her succeed.

After she left for school, I glanced at my phone and saw another message from Nath.

"What plans do you have today, Pearl?"

I hesitated before replying. "Nothing much, just heading to work at the designer's studio."

"Oh, so you're free after work?"

"Sure, free for you," I replied, a small smile tugging at my lips.

Feeling oddly excited, I decided to dress up a little more than usual. I chose a pair of tailored brown trousers and paired them with a sleek blue Bulgari shirt I'd gotten from the northern markets. I tied my hair into a neat bun and added a touch of makeup to highlight my features. As I left the house, I felt lighter, even hopeful.

Miss Lucy, my boss, was already in a mood when I arrived. She was a perfectionist with a short fuse, and today was no exception. We were working on a new fabric design, and she was adamant about making it glamorous.

"Give it everything you've got, Reina . I want this to shine!" she barked.

I poured my energy into the project, sketching, stitching, and reworking until I felt my fingers might fall off. By the end of the day, I decided to take the design home to refine it further, hopeful that my efforts would lead to the promotion I'd been chasing.

The sun had set by the time I left the studio, and the streets were dark. Rain clouds gathered ominously overhead, and I couldn't hail a taxi no matter how hard I tried. When the first drops began to fall, I panicked, clutching my designs to protect them from the water.

A car screeched to a halt in front of me.

It was Carl.

"Get in," he said, his tone calm .

"Oh come on I don't mean no harm I just want to help that's the least I can do for you now  Reina "

I hesitated, but with the rain pouring harder, I relented. As soon as I shut the door, he hit the gas, the car lurching forward at an alarming speed.

"Slow down, Carl!" I shouted, gripping the seatbelt.

He didn't respond. Instead, he laughed—a low, bitter sound that sent chills down my spine.

"So, you don't love me anymore?" he said, his voice cold. "You were begging to be with me before, and now you've thrown me away like trash?"

"Carl, stop the car," I pleaded, panic rising in my chest.

"How about we die together, huh?" he sneered, slamming the gas pedal.

The car sped faster, and I felt the blood drain from my face. My mind raced. I didn't know what to do, but I had to act fast.

I fumbled for my phone and dialed Nath's number. The ringing felt like an eternity before he finally picked up.

"Hello? Pearl?"

"Nath, help me!" I screamed, my voice breaking.

Before I could say more, Carl snatched the phone from my hands and threw it against the dashboard, shattering it.

"You think I'm stupid? Your precious boyfriend won't save you," he snarled, his grip on the wheel tightening.

The car hurtled toward a cliff, the edge growing closer with every passing second.

Tears streamed down my face as I made one last desperate attempt.

"Okay, Carl. You're right," I said, my voice trembling. "I'll be with you. I'll love you. Please, just stop the car."

He slowed slightly, his gaze softening as he glanced at me.

"You mean it?" he asked, his voice quieter now.

"I do," I whispered, forcing a shaky smile.

But the sound of screeching tires behind us made him snap back into madness. A car was following us—Nath's car. Carl's face twisted with rage.

"You think you can fool me?!" he shouted, slamming his foot on the gas again.

As the cliff loomed closer, a gunshot rang out, echoing in the night.