Chapter 2 SHADOWS OF THE PAST

Marissa had always been good at lying to herself.

She'd lied to herself about how good she was at managing her emotions. She'd lied to herself about the promise she made when she first ran. She'd told herself she'd leave her past behind and never look back. But now, as the sun began to dip below the horizon and the dimming light seeped into her apartment, she found herself failing at that simple act of self-deception.

The truth was, her past had claws-claws that would dig into her until the day she died, and no matter how far she ran, it would always catch up with her.

The second she walked into her apartment that evening, the moment she locked the door behind her, the walls seemed to close in.

Her heart was beating too fast.

Too much time had passed since she'd been alone with her thoughts. Too much time had passed without knowing if she would ever be free.

She stood by the window, staring down at the streets. The cars honked, people shouted, and the world carried on as if nothing had changed. But everything had changed. She had changed.

She hadn't told anyone about the baby. Not even her neighbor, Caleb.

She shook her head and exhaled, pacing across the room, her mind still spinning. Caleb had noticed. He wasn't stupid. He had seen her act nervous around him, always distancing herself when he'd ask too many questions. Always avoided him when he got too close, both physically and emotionally.

There was something about him, something different. He wasn't like the men she had known. He wasn't like Alessandro.

Alessandro.

She hissed through her teeth, squeezing her eyes shut against the flashbacks that came too easily. The cold, calculating stare. The arrogant smirk. The heavy weight of his presence. The way he always had control-control over everything.

The memory of his touch made her skin crawl.

But the thought of him finding out about the baby made her stomach twist in a completely different way.

She didn't want his influence on this child. She didn't want him to have any claim to this life.

The doorbell rang, a sound so unexpected that she jumped. Her heart pounded in her chest, the dread creeping up her spine. She approached the door slowly, her hand trembling as she reached for the doorknob.

Who could it be at this hour?

She glanced at the peephole, expecting to see someone she didn't want to see. But to her surprise, it was Caleb.

He stood there, a bag of groceries in his hand, his features soft, but his eyes held something else-concern, maybe even a little worry.

"Hey," he greeted, his voice warm but cautious. "I thought I'd bring you something to eat. I know you've been keeping to yourself a lot lately."

Her first instinct was to turn him away. She hadn't asked for anyone to see her like this. But she saw the genuine care in his eyes, and for a moment, she couldn't bring herself to lie anymore.

"Thank you," she said quietly, stepping aside to let him in. The silence that followed felt heavier than any words could be.

He placed the bag of groceries on the kitchen counter, his movements slow, deliberate. He seemed to be giving her space, but she could tell he was trying to find something more to say, something to break the tension that hung thick in the air.

"I hope I didn't interrupt anything," he said, looking back at her, his voice light but searching. "I just... I've noticed you've been a little off lately. Haven't seen you much."

Marissa offered him a small, tight smile as she closed the door behind her. "I've just been... busy."

His brows furrowed slightly. "I get that. But if you ever want to talk, or if you need anything, I'm here."

The offer, though simple, felt like the kind of support she hadn't realized she needed. She wanted to believe him. She wanted to believe that there could be a life for her that didn't involve fear.

But the truth was, she couldn't risk it.

Her past wasn't something she could just let go of. It wasn't something she could escape in one evening, no matter how hard she tried.

She took a deep breath and changed the subject. "What did you bring?"

Caleb glanced down at the bag and grinned, clearly relieved by the change in topic. "Well, I wasn't sure what you liked, but I grabbed some basics-fruit, veggies, pasta, and... some frozen lasagna. It's not five-star, but it'll fill you up."

Marissa couldn't help but laugh softly. The tension in the room eased a little, but there was still something in his eyes that made her uncomfortable like he was waiting for her to open up.

He waited for her to take the first step.

"I haven't had lasagna in a long time," she said softly, trying to keep the conversation light.

"Well, I'll make it for us," he said with a warm smile. "It's the least I can do for a neighbor who's been so... reclusive." He shot her a teasing look. "Besides, I think we both need a break from the weirdness in our lives."

She didn't respond to that immediately, her mind racing with thoughts of her own weirdness-of how she was running, hiding, and living a life that wasn't hers. Her thoughts flashed back to the letter, the one from Alessandro, the one that threatened everything she had worked for.

"I'd appreciate it," she finally said, trying to push the thoughts aside.

As Caleb set about preparing dinner, Marissa watched him from the corner of her eye. There was something about his presence, something calming. He was just a regular guy, living his life, not tied to anything dangerous. But Marissa couldn't allow herself to believe that he was safe.

Not with her secret.

The meal passed in relative silence. Caleb chatted about his day, about his job at the local bookstore, his usual banter that she found oddly comforting. But she remained distant, her thoughts constantly drifting back to the situation she couldn't escape.

When the meal was over, Caleb leaned back in his chair, his eyes lingering on her.

"Marissa, can I ask you something?"

She froze for a moment. "Of course."

He hesitated, his fingers tapping the edge of his cup. "Is everything okay with you? I mean, really okay? I know you're going through something, but... I don't want to push you, but if you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here. You don't have to do this alone."

His words hit her like a punch to the gut. The idea of leaning on someone, especially him, made her feel weak. She wasn't weak. She had spent years surviving on her own. She wasn't about to crumble now.

But the softness in his voice, the genuine concern, made her falter. She couldn't let him in, not when everything around her was so unstable.

"I'm fine," she said quickly, standing up. "Just tired. It's been a long day."

She could feel his gaze on her, but she didn't turn around. She couldn't. If she did, he might see too much-the pain, the fear, the weight of a life she couldn't escape.

"Alright," Caleb said, his voice quieter. "But you know where to find me if you need anything."

She nodded, not trusting herself to speak. He stayed for a moment longer, but when he saw that she wasn't going to engage, he quietly gathered his things and left.

Marissa stood there in the dimming light, the silence swallowing the space between her and everything she feared. The shadows in the room seemed to press in on her, as though they were closing in on her, slowly suffocating her with the knowledge that no matter how far she ran, there would always be someone out there looking