The elevator doors closed behind you with a soft chime, sealing you into a space that felt suspended in time. The hum of the motor matched the quiet thrum in your chest. Just one floor—but somehow it felt like crossing into another world. Your suitcase rolled behind you, the sound hushed against the carpet, your grip tightening on the handle. Not from nerves—no. It was something else entirely.
Possibility.
At the front desk, a woman greeted you with a smile that felt too knowing. "Ah, yes," she said before you even gave your name. "Room's ready. Mr. Bang took care of everything."
Your breath caught just slightly at his name, barely audible above the whisper of your own pulse.
She handed over the keycard gently, like it held more than access—like it was a beginning. You murmured a thank-you, unable to stop your lips from curving as you turned toward the hallway.
Room 804.
Each number echoed in your mind with every footstep. The hallway stretched out in muted tones—soft light, clean lines, distant sounds muffled by thick walls. But your heartbeat? Loud. Fierce.
The card slid into the lock with a practiced motion. Click.
The door gave way with a soft sigh.
Warm light spilled in, greeting you like an embrace. The room wasn't extravagant—neutral walls, a cozy armchair in the corner, soft linens on the bed—but there was a stillness, an intimacy, that made it feel like it had been waiting for you.
You stepped inside, the citrus scent meeting you first—fresh, grounding—followed by the subtle comfort of clean linen. Your eyes drifted across the room and caught on something small but deliberate: a folded card, resting on the table beside the bed.
You walked over and flipped it open.
Three words. Familiar handwriting. Slightly messy, rushed maybe, but careful in its own way:
"You're not alone." – C
The breath you didn't know you were holding left your body in one quiet, shaky exhale.
You set your suitcase aside and sat on the edge of the bed. Your fingers toyed with the corner of the note, eyes tracing the words over and over again. So simple. So powerful.
The last 24 hours had been chaos in the best kind of way—flashing lights, roaring crowds, music pounding through your soul. And him. That voice, that smile, the electricity that buzzed beneath every word you shared.
But here... now... the silence was louder.
And it felt safe.
You rose slowly, ran your fingers through your hair, and walked toward the mirror. For a moment, you just looked. Not at the makeup or the outfit or the way your body held itself—but at your eyes. Your presence.
For the first time in a long while, you didn't see someone caught between two worlds.
You saw someone ready. Ready for whatever this was. Ready for what came next