Time dragged like a reluctant animal. I tried to lose myself in spreadsheets and marketing proposals, but every few minutes, my mind wandered back to Hector. I remembered how he used to text me mid-morning, silly jokes or random updates about his day. Now, my phone remained silent.
Around 10:00 a.m., I was revising a product pitch deck when a voice startled me. "Sarah, you got a minute?" It was my boss, Mr. Collins, peering over the cubicle wall.
My stomach flipped. "Sure." I saved my work and followed him to his office, where he closed the door behind us.
He gestured for me to sit, then leaned against his desk. "I just wanted to check in. You've seemed… distracted and the way you left the office on Friday, are you okay?."
I swallowed, trying to steady my voice. "I'm okay, just dealing with some personal stuff."
Mr. Collins nodded slowly. He was a decent boss—fair, a bit strict. "I understand. If there's anything we can do—flexible hours, a day off—just let me know. We need you at your best, but I also don't want to push you if you're going through something."
Tears threatened at the back of my eyes. I blinked them away. "Thanks. I'll keep that in mind."
He offered a tight smile. "Alright. Just remember, you're not alone, okay?"
I nodded, forcing a grateful expression. As I returned to my desk, the kindness only made the knot in my chest tighter. People were noticing. People were worried. But no one could help me with the only problem that mattered: finding Hector.
---
Call from Family
I returned to my desk, trying to focus again on the pitch deck. The words swam on the screen, refusing to make sense. My phone buzzed once more, the sound loud in the hush of midday office lull.
Melanie.
I sighed, hesitating before picking up. "Hey."
"Sarah! Finally!" My sister's voice was a mix of relief and mild exasperation. "I've been calling you for days."
"I know. I'm sorry."
"What's going on? I couldn't reach you over the weekend.
I closed my eyes, wishing I had a lie that sounded convincing. "Just… stuff. Works' crazy."
Melanie's silence spoke volumes. She never did buy my excuses. "Is it Hector?" she asked gently.
My heart squeezed. "Why would you say that?"
She sighed. "Because I know you. And I know how important he is to you. If something's wrong, it's probably related to him."
I swallowed, the pain still raw. "I—he's… we're…" I couldn't bring myself to say the words. He's gone. I don't know where he is. I don't even know if he's safe.
"Sarah," she said softly, "you can talk to me."
I glanced around the office, coworkers typing away some chatting about lunch plans. None of them had any idea my world was falling apart. "Not right now," I whispered. "I'll call you later, okay? I promise."
Melanie paused, then relented. "Alright. But call me. I'm here for you."
"Thanks," I murmured, ending the call before my composure cracked.
---
Not a good Afternoon
By lunchtime, I had forced down half a sandwich at my desk, my appetite nonexistent. Rita stopped by, inviting me to join a group heading to the nearby café, but I declined. The thought of pretending to be normal, making small talk while my mind screamed about Hector's disappearance, was too exhausting.
I tried to work. Really, I did. But every so often, I'd catch myself staring blankly at the screen, time slipping through my fingers. The image of Hector's empty apartment kept intruding, reminding me that something was horribly wrong.
Around 2:00 p.m., I managed to finalize the pitch deck. It wasn't my best work, but it would have to do. Mr. Collins swung by to collect it, giving me a nod that carried a hint of pity. I pretended not to notice.
The office started to wind down around 4:30 p.m. People trickled out for early errands or to beat the traffic. I should have left too, but I lingered, half-hoping burying myself in tasks would distract me. It didn't.
My phone buzzed with a text from Jasmine: "How are you holding up?" I typed back: "Barely."
She replied almost immediately: "Call me after work. We can figure out next steps."
Next steps. The phrase made my stomach twist. What were the next steps, exactly? File a missing person's report? Stalk Hector's workplace? Dig through his phone records? I had no idea how to search for someone who vanished into thin air.
By 5:00 p.m., most of my coworkers had left. I saved my files, shut down my computer, and gathered my things with a weary sigh. Outside the windows, the sun had begun its slow descent, bathing the office in a golden haze. It was almost beautiful, but I couldn't appreciate it.
This was my life now: an endless cycle of worry, unanswered questions, and the hollow ache of missing someone who had left without explanation.
---
Nightfall
By the time I pulled into my apartment complex, the sky had deepened into a velvety purple, dotted with the first stars. The streetlamps cast pools of light on the pavement, and a stray cat darted across the walkway, disappearing into the shadows. Everything felt still, as if the world was holding its breath.
I climbed the stairs to my apartment, each step echoing in the enclosed stairwell. The emptiness inside me matched the quiet halls. With trembling fingers, I unlocked my door, stepping into the dim living room. I flicked on a lamp, its soft glow revealing the same furniture, the same décor, everything exactly as I'd left it.
And yet, everything was different.
I dropped my bag and collapsed onto the couch, burying my face in my hands. The tears I'd been holding back threatened to spill, but I fought them off. I was so tired of crying—so tired of feeling helpless.
In the silence, my mind replayed the weekend's events: Hector's apartment, stripped bare; his message, cold and abrupt; the sense of dread coiling in my gut. And the call from my sister reminded me that I was supposed to be normal, to keep functioning.
But how could I function when the person I loved had vanished?
I forced myself to breathe, counting each inhale, each exhale. Maybe tomorrow I'd have more energy to think, to plan. Maybe tomorrow I'd find a clue, a reason, something to hold onto. For now, I just needed to survive another night.
My phone buzzed—a text from Jasmine: "Call me when you can. We'll figure out what to do next."
I clutched the device against my chest, heart pounding. I didn't know what the next step was. But I knew I wasn't alone in this. Even if Hector was gone, even if I had no idea why, I had people who cared.
And maybe that would be enough to keep me going until I found the truth.