Chapter 3 The Journey Back

The office room fell into a heavy silence.

Elena stared blankly at the floor as Michael sat frozen, trying to compose himself.

The resignation letter in his hand felt heavier than it should.

He readjusted himself in his chair, clearly unsettled.

"Why are you giving me your resignation letter?" he finally asked, his voice low and disbelieving.

Elena paused for a bit. The truth was, she didn't entirely know. All she could say was that something was calling her back home.

A voice, a presence, a feeling she couldn't explain. The voices in her dreams had become nightmares she could no longer ignore.

Michael leaned forward, "Is this because I asked you out? Are you feeling uncomfortable? If that's it, I swear I didn't mean to make things awkward."

She nodded her head slightly.

"No... it's not that," she said softly.

"Then what is it?" His brows drew together in concern.

"Did someone say something? Is it the office? The space? Your workload? Tell me, I can fix it."

Elena looked up at him, her expression calm yet conflicted.

"Michael... you're a good boss. You've been nothing but kind. This isn't about you. It's just... something I have to do."

Michael scoffed, frustration seeping into his voice.

"And you think that vague excuse makes this easier to accept?"

She lowered her gaze again.

"Come on Elena, what's this personal reason? Why are you leaving the perfect career you told me you've always wanted? Michael exhaled deeply.

"If I tried to explain, it wouldn't make sense."

Michael scoffed but didn't push further. Silence settled between them like fog.

What could she say? That she'd been haunted every night for a week, her mother's face staring at her.

That every dream felt more real than the world she woke up to?

Something was calling her home.

And she had to answer.

Michael sighed, sensing he'd hit a wall.

"When do you plan to leave?"

"In three days," she replied quietly.

His lips parted in surprise. "You've planned this," he muttered.

"This wasn't sudden. You were just waiting for the right moment."

Elena didn't deny it.

He ran a hand through his hair and slumped back into his chair.

"If there's anything you need, let me know. You can take the day off if you'd like.

She nodded. "Thank you."

She left the office quietly.

Outside, the city greeted her with its usual vibe, but everything felt different now.

She took a walk around the block in her heels, trying to ground herself.

The crisp air, the murmurs of passerby, the scent of street coffee, it all felt like a quiet goodbye.

By the third day, Elena was packed. Her apartment now stood empty.

She dropped her key with the landlord and stepped into the Uber with her luggage, her heart beating a strange rhythm.

The ride to the airport was quiet. Forty-five minutes to let it all settle.

She watched the city blur past the window, every street, every café, every street lights, every memory she was leaving behind.

At the airport, she checked her bags, went through security, and joined the queue for passport control.

And then...

Her phone beeped.

A notification flashed on her screen.

You've been credited: $500,000.00 USD

She froze. Her breath was audible.

What?!

She screamed out loud, loud enough for people around her to turn.

Even the officer scanning passports looked up.