A'S

t in both confusion and disappointment that I already had to get out of bed. But then, my eyes widened. Memo

ng cat curled up on my bed sheets, her back slowly rising and lowering as she inhaled and exhaled. "Ruffles," I whispered and inched my hand f

ght? How did I get home? Who w

soft knock at the door, causing me to raise my head. "Come i

feeling?" he asked and approached me in quick strides, taking a seat by my legs under the duvet. Leaving me no time to answe

y cheek with one hand. "But what happen

le to himself and shake his head. "Of course you're don

ho

se was around and it was already dark so- and if you're wondering how he got our address, Ruffles here was crouched by your figure and sniffing your hand. He didn't know for certain if she wa

been true. I was sure that he had saved me from

ke agreement, my gaze

ds in his own large, warm ones. I looked back to my cat nervously, as if she would be the one to help me escape the situatio

, but that man must have hidden the truth about yesterday for a reason;

n he began to caress my head as if I were a puppy or baby animal instead of his daughter, but I breathed in his comforting scent anyway; it was a mixture of warm tones of

y but he wasn't really one to enforce rules - that was mama's job. Even so, I nodded my head against his chest and reluc

raising the duvet to my nose. Papa shook his hea

breakfast whe

o me last night, and the mere thought of it only sent unsettling shivers down my spine. If it weren't for that stranger, I didn't know where I'd be

r heard such an intriguing voice before, something which would make my quiver so easily. But he spoke so softly, as if he were afraid tha

hould have been the last thing on my mind after something so traumatic. He sounded much older than I was anyway, and it wasn't like he found me ver

anging at the door. Remembering that I had left my phone in one of the pockets, I approached the door and silently prayed that no one had stolen it while I

bewilderment, along with my phone,

d you're cute enough for me not t

number writt

number if

for word. "Ruffles," I scolded, shooting the named culprit a glare, but she didn't even budge; sh

lieve what wa

tion like that again. Such a considerate thought only made butterflies flutter in my stomach, but not necessarily the good kind. It felt li

forget about him. He had saved my l

ake a mistake. I was holding my phone with two hands as I stared at the number, fully entered, on the screen. It was more than a struggle to

no need to

und from my phone, I frantically began to panic. Should I end it and prepare what I was going to say first? And was I sup

d sabe mejor que llamar

u know better than to cal

u

throat grow dry, words failing to escape my mouth from how absolutely terrified I was. For a split second, my breathing wen

uld have asked if thi

wing even shyer. "Hello?" I questioned quietly, as if askin

here,

to where I could never find it. His accent was so gorgeous, I was afraid I would pass out again before I could hear any more of it. And

th me struggling not to make evident gasping s

whispere

n absolute

r of, "Tan linda." Before I could ask what that meant, he was speaking clearly, an

cu

to his words, I stammered, "I-I just wanted to say thank you for last ni

to them," he said, an obvious threat in his tone; it was somehow augm

t them... that

an unsettl

dn't

re they had learnt their lesson and weren't about to do the same to some other poor gi

f stones being tossed around, grinding against each other in a low rumble which only made me blush embarrassedly. I wanted

ger but when he spoke, I could feel those worries dissipate a little. "Thanks, doll,

u?" I reminded him, silently glancing ove

our name as

do you

doll. I want to

ing back over to my bed to sit beside my cat. The mattress sagged at my weight as I stroked Ruffles' head with my thumb, but my heart rate

ble, ¿lo sabes? Pero eso

you know that? But that won

tand," I admitt

e lo hace div

at makes i

r what he was saying. Seemingly sensing my frustration, I only earned myself another deep laugh that sent shivers down my spine. I pouted

a tinge of amusement still appare

e giddy smile tugging at my lips, only for me

of the regular customers at the charity shop. It didn't feel right. I wasn't supposed to be t

using every force possible to keep myself still, I couldn't control my trembling hands as my breathing quickened; what if this man was trying to ge

air, my lungs collapsing and my throat tightening as if a coil were being squeezed around the opening. "I'm sorry," I managed to say into the speaker, wiping

I choked before

alled him. He was going to be angry with me for hanging up on him. He could hurt me now. He had a r

ain rather than the air refusing to pass through my mouth. I cried to myself for what felt like hours but it must have been mere minutes. What

food's get

ting any longer or I was sure she would storm up those stairs and bombard me with questions. So, I staggered out

in the mirror, finding a pale face, flushed cheeks and red-rimmed eyes staring back at me. Subconsciously, I chewed down on my lip as

a few parts of my hair that were especially knotted. The brown strands tumbled past my shoulders in unkempt waves, bounding like the peaks and troughs of

as rushing to me and I was drawn into her arms as she pressed a

ort. "Imagine what could have happened if that man didn't find you. Imagine what could have happened to you, Thea! Anybody could have f

pulling me even closer to her. Her warm hands fisted the back of my sweater,

ise I'll start eating bett

ate irises growing defined and stricter than ever. "Because I'm going to watch you eat ever

I shovelled a forkful of syrup and pancakes into my mouth, my gaze wandering to the animated movie playing on the television screen. Before I knew it, I was

ughts revolving around a certain stranger