runaway.

You and Mattheo had been together for nearly a year. It wasn’t perfect, but it was real—passionate, chaotic, intense in all the ways that made your heart race and your world blur. He had this mysterious charm, like he was always holding something back, but you trusted him. You loved him. And you thought he loved you too.

Then, one night, everything changed.

He didn’t call. He didn’t text. He didn’t even leave a note. He just… vanished.

At first, you thought something terrible had happened. You stayed up all night calling him over and over again, heart pounding with every ring, praying he’d pick up. But the calls went straight to voicemail. His apartment was empty. No one had seen him. It was as if he had been erased from existence.

The days turned to weeks. The weeks turned to months. And eventually, after all the breakdowns, sleepless nights, and unanswered questions, you let go. You had no choice. He wasn’t coming back.

You pieced yourself back together, slowly. You moved on with your life—found new routines, new peace, maybe even a sliver of happiness. The version of you that once knew Mattheo felt like someone you used to be, long ago.

One Year Later

It was a quiet night, just like any other. You were curled up in a blanket on the couch, the soft flicker of your favorite TV show playing in the background. The lights were off. The room was calm, still, and completely dark, save for the glow of the screen. You liked it that way—it felt safe. Controlled.

Mattheo hadn’t crossed your mind in months. You were over it. Over him. That chapter was closed, locked, buried.

Then— A knock.

Sharp, sudden, and loud enough to jolt you upright.

You paused, waiting. Maybe you imagined it.

Knock. Knock.

Nope. Definitely real.

You glanced at the time: 2:04 a.m.

Your heart started to race. Who the hell would be knocking at your door this late?!

Then, another knock—this one slower. Heavier.