With a black cap pulled low over her face, she ran.
Her breath came in sharp, uneven bursts as she chased the man through the crowded street, her heartbeat echoing louder than the noise around her.
People blurred into shadows as she pushed past them, her eyes locked on his retreating figure.
“Stop!” she shouted—
But he was already slipping away
And then… he was gone.
Just like that.
She slowed to a halt, chest rising and falling rapidly, her lungs burning as if the air itself had turned against her.
For a moment, she stood frozen, scanning every corner, every face—
Nothing.
He had vanished.
“Damn it…” she muttered under her breath.
Frustration flickered across her face as she tilted her head up toward the sky.
It looked calm… too calm.
As if nothing had just happened.
As if the world didn’t care.
Slowly, she walked toward a bench beneath a wide green tree and dropped onto it, exhaustion finally catching up to her.
Cool shade wrapped around her like a quiet escape.
For a moment, everything felt… normal.
The rustling leaves whispered softly in the wind.
A young couple walked past, fingers intertwined, lost in their own world.
An elderly pair strolled slowly, leaning on each other for support.
Children laughed nearby, chasing a bright, rainbow-colored football across the grass.
And a little girl spun in circles, her carefree laughter cutting through the air like light in darkness.
Peaceful.Too peaceful.
Her lips slowly curved into a smile as her phone rang.
A small ❤️ flashed on the screen.
Without hesitation, she picked up the call, her voice instantly softening—
“Hi…”
On the other end, the man sounded breathless, like he had been running.
Relief flickered in her eyes—but it didn’t last.
“I told you not to go there,” his voice came sharp, edged with anger.
“Why the hell don’t you ever listen?”
Her smile faded.
The warmth in her expression disappeared, replaced by quiet hurt.
She lowered her gaze, fingers tightening slightly around the phone.
“I—” she tried to speak, but the words felt heavy.
A soft, defeated sigh escaped her lips.
“I’m sorry…”
Silence followed.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
But this time, the silence wasn’t empty—it was filled with everything they couldn’t say.
On the other side, he exhaled slowly.
The anger in his voice softened, as if he had just realized—
She wasn’t the only one hurting.
“…Hey,” he said, quieter now.
“I didn’t mean to—”
“Baby… that place is dangerous,”
he said softly, his voice now filled with concern instead of anger.
“You need to be careful. I was worried about you.”
She closed her eyes for a brief second, letting his words settle.
“I know…” she replied quietly, her voice hesitant.
“But I have to find it.”
There was a pause.
On the other end, he seemed to calm down completely now.
“…Where are you?” he asked gently.
“Tell me. I’ll come pick you up.”
A small smile finally returned to her lips—soft, real this time.
His concern always did that to her… broke through her stubbornness, even if just a little
She lifted her gaze.
And then she saw it.
A tower.
Tall.
Elegant.
Almost unreal.
It stood against the sky like something that didn’t belong to this world—its structure glowing faintly, as if it held secrets buried deep within its walls.
Her breath slowed.
“I’m…” she whispered, eyes fixed on it.
“I’m near a tower. It’s… beautiful.”
There was a brief silence between them, softer now… calmer.
Then he spoke, his tone gentle but firm—
“Okay… I’m coming to you.”
A small pause.
“Let’s have lunch together.”
Her smile deepened, something warm settling in her chest.
“Okay,” she replied softly.
Elise scanned the surroundings, her focus sharpening again.
That’s when something caught her eye.
A young man sat on a nearby bench, one leg crossed casually over the other.
His face was hidden behind a book, the cover turned outward.
She narrowed her eyes, trying to read it.
“The Glitch.”
The title felt… off.
Unfamiliar.
Curiosity stirred.
She quickly pulled out her phone and searched for it, scrolling through results, switching tabs, checking different sites.
Nothing.
No listings.
No author.
No trace that the book even existed.
Her brows furrowed.
“That’s not possible…”
She looked up again—
The bench was empty.
The man was gone.
No sound.
No movement.
No sign he had ever been there.
Elise didn’t move this time.
Her gaze slowly shifted back to where the book had been.
The Glitch.
The name lingered in her mind—
Elise let out a quiet sigh, disappointment settling in.
She was deeply addicted to books—her entire friend circle revolved around them, always exchanging books as gifts.
This time, she had wanted to find something unique for her friend’s birthday, but that strange man—and that even stranger book, The Glitch—had completely ruined her plan.
Sitting on the bench just outside the park, facing the distant outline of the Eiffel Tower, her thoughts drifted away.
She found herself remembering the day Joe had finally asked her out, a moment she still held close—
August 20, 2024, one of the most memorable days of her life.
Lost in those thoughts, she didn’t notice time passing…
until something slowly came to a stop right in front of her, its presence pulling her back to reality.
The car window slid down, and Joe leaned slightly out, calling her name with a hint of excitement in his voice.
Elise looked up, her thoughts breaking instantly, and without hesitation, she stood and walked toward him before getting into the car.
Joe leaned closer, reaching across her to adjust the seatbelt, his movements calm and familiar, then placed a gentle kiss on her cheek.
Elise flushed lightly, a soft warmth spreading across her face.
“Shall we go, my love?”
Joe asked, a small smile on his lips.
Elise gave a quiet hum in response, and within seconds, the car pulled away, leaving the park—and the silence behind them.
By evening, Elise returned home.
As soon as she stepped inside, the sensor lights turned on automatically.
She slipped off her shoes, dropped her coat aside, and walked into the living room, tossing her handbag onto the table without much thought.
Soft, low lights glowed across the space.
The room carried a familiar scent—a mix of old pages and fresh flowers.
Books were everywhere, quietly filling the silence like they always did.
Her eyes drifted to the wall.
A pink flower rested against the blue surface—the one Joe had given her yesterday.
She smiled faintly.
Then her expression shifted.
The Glitch.
The title slipped back into her thoughts without warning.
It lingered there, pulling at her curiosity.
She didn’t understand why— but it refused to leave.
She exhaled and leaned back, closing her eyes for a moment.
Then suddenly, she got up.
The main lights flicked on.
The room looked messy.
A tired sigh escaped her as she tied her hair into a loose bun and began cleaning, moving slowly, mechanically.
Time passed without her noti cing.
By the time she stopped—
The clock read 1:00 a.m.
She put on her headphones, letting Charley’s voice fill the quiet space, trying to drown out the noise in her mind.
But even then…
One thought remained.
The Glitch.