Page 20 of Shattered Obsession

But this time, I feel an odd compulsion to press accept. Is it exhaustion from the constant anxiety? A flare of anger boiling beneath my surface? Maybe I merely want the nightmare to conclude, to confront whatever awaits me on the other end.

I take a deep, trembling breath before answering and uttering a cautious, “Hello?”

The second I hear his voice, the world tilts on its axis, and the color drains from my face.

Damian.

Just hearing his voice sends a shockwave through my body.

My muscles seize, my breath catches in my throat, and panic surges like a tsunami, overwhelming me so quickly that my mind goes blank. I slap my thumb against the screen and hang up abruptly, the phone slipping from my fingers to crash onto the floor. I crumble alongside it, the weight of my emotions crashing down, and sobs erupt from within me, raw and desperate, before I can even attempt to stifle them.

I curl against the couch, my body shuddering with ragged breaths, every convulsion a reminder that he won’t leave me in peace. He won’t stop haunting me.

With shaking hands, I dial Isla’s number, my only lifeline in this chaos. She picks up on the second ring, her voice instantly laced with concern. “Thalia? What’s wrong?”

The words struggle to escape my throat, choked by fear. “It was him. He called me. I answered. I shouldn’t have, but I heard his voice.” Each word feels like a betrayal, causing my chest to heave, breaking under the weight of my panic.

“Oh, honey,” she replies, her voice soothing yet firm. “You’re safe. You’re okay. He can’t hurt you right now.” I want so desperately to believe her, but echoes of his greeting still linger in my mind, replaying like a haunting refrain.

“Should I call the cops?” My voice shakes, uncertainty flooding my words. “Should I? I don’t know what to do.”

“You can,” she emphasizes gently. “Or you can continue ignoring him. It’s your choice. But listen, this isn’t your fault. He’s the one who won’t let go. Not you.” Her unwavering certainty calms me enough to get a shallow breath in, and after she spends some time settling me, I hang up the call.

Yet, when the phone rings again, and I see that same blocked number flashing on the screen, anger stirs. Isla gave me the confidence, the reminder that I’m not alone.

I unblock him, my hands quivering as I type furiously.

Thalia

Why do you keep calling me?

Almost immediately, the reply comes through.

Damian

I know the date didn’t go as planned, but I was going to take you out. I’ll show you a real date if you give me another chance.

Rage blooms, consuming my thoughts like wildfire. That wasn’t a date; it was a violation of my boundaries, a destruction of any chance he ever had.

Thalia

I will never go out with you again. Stop contacting me.

There’s a pause, heavy with tension. Then, a single word flashes on the screen.

Damian

Okay.

I take a screenshot, my heart racing both with relief and newfound resolve. I block him again, this time feeling a sense of strength in my actions. But as I collapse onto the couch, the weight of it all settles heavily upon me, pressing down until I feel as if I can’t move, can’t breathe. Even now that I’ve severed that line of communication, his shadow lingers, an unshakable presence.

He’s gone, but not really. Not yet.

Later that night, I have Xander come over after I decide that I want to tell him what happened. Sitting on the worn couch, the atmosphere between us feels thick, heavy with unspoken words. I try to gather my thoughts, but the weight of the truth buries deeper. I hesitate, not because my trust in him wavers, but because I'm terrified of the worry and anger I’ll see in his eyes, the mixture of fury woven with heartbreak.

Secrets are like festering wounds that need air to heal, but this one is far too fresh.

“The truth is…” I finally breathe out, the words barely above a whisper. “Something happened.” My fingers twist nervously in my lap, and a tight knot forms in my chest. “It’s about him. Damian.”