Christian POV:-

Finally, We're gonna start our lives anew. I am so excited. I know I swore to myself that I'll never love again but. I just want a reprieve from that solitude and to feel her love. I know she's gonna leave me that day when I'm gonna tell her everything. Somewhere in my heart, I don't want to tell her so that I can feel her happiness and love but I know I have to finish what I have started.

I just want today to be perfect. Filled with her smiles. That moment excites me a lot when she shivered when I winked at her. Just how innocent she is. A pure soul made for me. I was an idiot to push her away. From now on, I'm gonna love her, take care of her, protect her, respect her. I will give her every happiness I can. She lights my dark world, her divine presence is a blessing for me. She gave me reasons to smile, to live, to feel, she set a fire of love in me and now I want to hold her hands and move forward for as long as we can.

I know this moment it's not gonna last longer than a mere instant but I want to treasure it deeply. I want to embed that rapture deeply into my very core. I want to crave this in my soul. I want to be filled with that affection and fondness of hers. So, when we part, these feelings and these memories, I'm gonna make with her can be my salvation. Just like a thread, binding me away from all those insecurities.

I looked at my reflection for the last time. I was wearing a black jeans jacket and a black shirt under it and black ripped jeans. I turned and asked Tyler, "Looking Good? "

"Yeah, man. This is the twentieth time you are asking." He whined.

"She has never seen me like this. Do you think that she will like looking at me like this?" I asked nervously.

"Come on man, she's gonna fall head over heels for you looking at you like this." He said but I felt a strange uneasiness in my heart. I smiled and looked at my slightly messy hairs. I ran my hands in them and took a deep breath.

"Tyler. Is everything ready? Her entrance. Our room? Dinner? Garden? Rooftop?" I asked and he hummed in response. Yes, I am in his place. I have just put things in their place and readied her surprise. I'm sure she's gonna love it. I don't want to ruin anything so I came here to get ready.

"Say something!" I said slightly angered. I just don't want anything to ruin today.

"Yeah dude, calm down. Everything's gonna be fine. Just go!' I took a deep breath and looked at the time, 4. Great.

Taking a deep breath, I went to pick her up. I entered, Aunt's mouth gaped looking at me. She smiled and hugged me.

"Hello, handsome." She complimented.

"Hi beautiful, Where is your angel?" I asked as she chuckled.

"You see, She's-" She was cut off.

"Ma'am, A friend of Ma'am Sophie, Candice has come," Stacy said.

"Let her come," Aunt said and she nodded and left.

"By the way, did you forgive me?" I asked.

"Of course, I just can't believe how madly she is in love with you." I raised my eyebrow and asked, "Did something happen?"

"For the first time, She fought with me. I can't even remember the last time she was like that." Fluttering happiness filled me when I heard it. She always takes my side, in every matter. I love this demeanour of hers.

Then Sophie's friend came as she greeted,

"Hello, Ma'am. Hello Sir." I just hummed in response as Aunt said,

"Dear, you are Sophie's friend. Call me Aunt." She smiled and nodded.

"By the way, Where's Sophie?" Aunt asked.

"Isn't she home?" She asked, tilting her head in confusion.

"No, she was with you," Aunt replied.

"Yes she was but it was almost 3 hours ago." She said.

"Is.. everything alright?' She asked concern.

"When did you last see her?" I asked.

"At 1 pm. She was so happy and left for home quickly." She replied. My heart skipped a beat. Where's she?

I dialed her number, her phone rang but she didn't answer. I tried again and again but no avail. I grit my teeth in stress. Please, not today. Today is special, it's her birthday. I want to surprise her, I am sure she has forgotten. But, I can't. Please, don't destroy this day.

"What happened, Christian?" Aunt asked.

"She is not picking up the phone," I said, then I turned to her,

"Where did you guys go?" I asked again.

"We met in the cafe, then we went to the mall and then to a salon, she wants to get ready to meet you so after this, she left for home." She explained as my jaw clenched. She is also looking forward to it. No... please no...

I then called Tyler,

"Hey, can you trace the location of this number?" I asked.

"Yea, sure, but why?" He asked, perplexed.

"Just do it.. quick," I said as I cut the call. Please come home Sophie, don't be so irresponsible, it's not like you.

After a few minutes, Tyler called back,

"Hey, So. it's from the central park's entrance." He said as I cut the call.

"Aunt wait, I'll go and bring her back. I promise." I said as I left leaving both of them worried.

I drove quickly, I saw Tyler already there, leaning on the wall.

He gave me the phone and said, "Must have been dropped. Now tell me what happened?" He asked.

"Sophie didn't come home."

"What?!"

"Yeah. She has been missing for three hours."

"Three!? Dude, I thought for a day or two. There's no need to panic man. She might have thought that you're gonna come at night so maybe she is just passing time." He tried to reason but my heart is not being convinced by it at all.

"Then why is her phone here?" I argued.

"Maybe she dropped it?" He shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't know... I have been feeling uneasy. I hope she is safe. But, she is not like this. She would've told me or anyone about where she is going." I said anxiously.

"Calm down. If you are that apprehensive, I'll search for her." He reassured me.

"Please do." He nodded and went to make some phone calls. I began to pace around. Please be safe. Please be safe. Please be safe.

Just why!? Why can't we live happily ever after like in fantasies?

I clenched and unclenched my hands to calm myself but my heart was racing with dread as unwanted thoughts came to my mind.

I just don't even want to think anything negative. Just be alright.

After a few moments, Tyler came,

"dude, you want to report a missing case to the cops?" He asked. I shook my head no.

"They can spread the news to the media. You find her. I know you can." I said referring to his work. He smirked and nodded.

"It's been years since you asked for this kind of help. The last time you asked for help was to find her and save her as her knight." He said.

"I can see how much she meant to you." He added.

"I have to keep her safe," I said looking away.

"I can see a million more reasons than just that." He teased but I irked.

"Just find her," I said. He laughed a little and said,

"If I find her in a cinema or someplace chilling, We're gonna have a party; to celebrate your love!" He exclaimed again. I sighed.

"Whatever," I mumbled.

****

It's been a day and I haven't gone to my place. I have been staying at Tyler's place. Sophie's whereabouts are nowhere to be found. My consternation is at its peak. I can't hold myself. Undesirable thoughts kept coming to my mind.

Please be safe

Please be safe

Please be safe

I kept repeating those words like a chant. I just want to start over everything and this came. Why I can't have a little bit of solace in my life. Why I can't feel loved? All this time, I pushed myself away from her and now when I am moving closer to her, this whole universe is trying to push her away from me.

Am I that unlucky?

My head was resting on the table. I am in too much dismay. I can't eat or think properly. I am going insane from the distress. My mind is wreaking havoc filled with absurd thoughts that made my soul shiver.

Tyler is also trying hard to find her. I just couldn't help, I don't have enough courage to go home. She was supposed to be here and greet me whenever I woke up, leave for work and come back from it but she isn't just that thought that fills my mind with heartbreak. The terror evokes in my heart just by thinking about what she might have happened to her, is causing me to feel dread. The horror residing in my heart is inexplicable.

I missed her warmth, her smile, the taste of her lips. I missed everything about her. I have become crazy about her and I just know that she is my beloved and I want to live the rest of my life with her- although it was impossible.

I know she's gonna leave me, I just want to make our brief time together everlasting so that it can become my salvation. But, this came in between and ruined it all. I want her to release me from those frights of my heart, I know only she can do it.

I don't know when these feelings rose in my heart but I am not complaining but I also not ready to watch her leave me like everyone else, even though I am preparing myself mentally for it.

She just shines in my dark world. I was so engrossed in her that I fell for her. I felt like every moment pulled me close to her. Each moment we shared was divine. I want to feel it just once more before it could slip out of my grasp.

I became so close to her that before I knew it was already trapped in those fascinating eyes of her. By meeting her, I felt like I got what I was trying so hard to find. The restlessness fades away. An eerie feeling of redemption from everything. Not just my body but my soul feels connected to her, maybe that's why I feel like she is calling for me.

Christian save me

I quickly shook my head. No, she is safe. She is fine. She is not saying anything like this at all. Nothing is going to happen. Everything is fine but.

...I feel scared that I might not be too late to save you...

I have finally gathered those broken pieces of yours; it was so painful as the shards prick my soul. If I began to save you again..I'll break. You are strong but I am not. Witnessing those depths of despair again are unbearable for me...