It all started a few days before February 14th Ava my girlfriend of 3 years had been acting off at first it was subtle slower replies to my messages shorter responses a general distance that wasn't like her Ava was the kind of person who texted back immediately even if she was busy she always made time for me always sent me cute little check-ins throughout the day did you EET yet or hope your day isn't too crazy but then The messages changed they were cold distant sloppy Ava never made typos she was meticulous about that she once
told me she couldn't stand seeing misplaced commas or bad grammar even in casual conversation but suddenly her texts were full of them at first I told myself she was just stressed work had been insane for her lately and I figured maybe she was overwhelmed but the more I tried to ignore it the more my gut twisted so I finally asked her about it hey are you Okay you seem different her response was almost immediate as if she'd been waiting for me to notice I'm fine babe just exhausted let's meet up on Valentine's Day okay I
promise I'll make it up to you she even added a heart emoji and I wanted to believe her I woke up feeling lighter whatever was going on with Ava we'd fix it tonight I went all out picked up flowers grabbed her favorite dark chocolates even made a reservation at marchello's this intimate Little Italian place we both loved everything was set tonight would be perfect then I got the text I'm in the shower doors unlocked come in and wait for me love you something about it felt wrong Ava never left her door unlocked ever she was
paranoid about safety triple checking locks keeping a security camera outside her apartment even carrying pepper spray on her keychain she never would have invited me in like that my stomach tightened but I told Myself I was overthinking maybe she was just trying to be romantic maybe this was her way of apologizing for being distant I pushed the thought aside and drove over but the second I stepped inside I knew something was very very wrong the air was Heavy thick the kind of Silence that isn't really silence the kind that makes your skin prickle because you
just know something is off the only sound was the faint running water from the bathroom Eva I called out No answer I set the flowers down on the coun and took a few cautious steps in that's when I noticed the dining table a plate of food sat there untouched a candle completely melted down into a puddle of wax had clearly been burning for hours a shiver crawled up my spine something was wrong I moved toward the bathroom my hands suddenly clammy the air was humid thick with steam that curled under the door frame I knocked
softly Eva no response then the water Shut off for a moment all I could hear was my own breathing the door creaked open Steam poured out in dense waves and then then I saw him a tall gaunt man stood there wearing Ava's dress my mind couldn't process what I was seeing his face or rather the skin on his face was stitched together sagging in loose unnatural folds his lips were Twisted into a grotesque smile and his hair Ava's dark curls was glued in uneven patches to his scalp I stumbled P back My stomach lurching what
the who my words died in my throat the man took a slow step forward what are you talking about love he murmured his voice sickly sweet it's me it's Ava my entire body locked up in Terror where is she my voice was barely a whisper his smile widened I told you babe right here I bolted for the door but he was too fast his long fingers wrapped around my wrist Nails digging in piercing my skin in you're scared he whispered tilting his Head that's okay love is scary sometimes I yanked away stumbling backward desperate for
an escape but then I heard it a wet dragging sound from the hallway my entire body went rigid the bedroom door which had been closed before was slightly open now something moved inside I didn't want to look but I had to I pushed the door open and the smell hit me first Rotting Flesh thick putrid clinging to my throat and then I saw her Eva or what was left of her she was Propped up against the bed dressed in the outfit she'd planned to wear that night her head tilted at an impossible angle her lips
parted like she was about to speak her skin God her skin was gone in places peeled away in gruesome strips I choked on a scream behind me the man side I work so hard for this you know for us for love I turned just as he lunged I don't remember much after that just the feeling of Flesh tearing my hands wet with something thick and warm By the time the police arrived I was covered in blood they found his body but they never figured out who he was his fingerprints no matches his face well that
wasn't really his face was it and they found Ava I was cleared self-defense they called it said I was lucky to be alive but luck had nothing to do with it because every year on Valentine day I get the same text I'm in the shower do unlocked come in and wait for me love you I move cities change my Number it doesn't matter he always finds me and one day I know he'll come back for real I used to love Valentine's Day the flowers the fancy dinners the little surprises it always felt like something worth
celebrating something special something magical but over the years it started to lose its spark maybe it was the way restaurants hiked up their prices or how every Coupes seemed to be performing their love for social media The stress of booking the perfect table picking the perfect gift making sure the night lived up to the impossible expectations it just became exhausting so last year Matt and I decided to do something different no overpriced dinners no scrambling for last minute reservations instead we booked a weekl long getaway at this bed and breakfast in Vermont a quiet cozy
Retreat surrounded by snow covered forests no emails no traffic no distractions just Us I remember the drive up miles of winding roads trees thick with snow the sky turning that deep blue gray of an early winter evening the further we got from the city the quieter it became that heavy allc consuming kind of quiet you only find in places Untouched by street lights or passing cars by the time we arrived the sun had almost disappeared behind the trees the place was even more beautiful than the photos had made it look a sprawling wooden Lodge warm
Lights glowing from the windows the smell of burning firewood drifting through the crisp air a handful of cabins were scattered throughout the property each one tucked among the trees for privacy it felt secluded in the best way possible EVN the inkeeper greeted us at the front desk she had that soft knowing warmth that made it seem like she had been running the place forever welcome love birds she said handing us a handwritten itinerary we've got plenty Of activities planned this week wine tasting sleigh rides a big candle lit dinner on the 14th she wined but
if you two just want to hibernate in your cabin that's perfectly fine too our cabin was perfect rustic but not in a roughing it way thick blankets on the bed a fireplace in the corner and even a private hot tub on the deck through the window I could see the woods stretching out in every direction untouched snow covering the ground in a perfect Undisturbed layer I remember standing there staring at it feeling strangely small that first night we had dinner in the lodge with the other couples the atmosphere was warm intimate low candle light the
scent of cinnamon and roasted meat filled in the air most of the other guests were friendly a mix of newlyweds longtime partners and People Like Us dating long enough to have inside jokes but not long enough to have stopped trying and then there was them Danielle And Sophie the moment I saw Sophie my stomach Twisted she looked like me not identical but close enough to make me do a double take dark hair sharp cheekbones even the same way she absent-mindedly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear when she laughed Daniel noticed too this is
crazy he said flashing an easy grin you two could be sisters Sophie smiled but it didn't quite reach her eyes I laughed it Off made some joke about needing to check my Family tree but the whole interaction left me uneasy over the next few days they kept appearing at breakfast during the afternoon walk through the woods at the bonfire event and every time it was Daniel who started the conversation and every time it was about me you remind me of someone he said one evening swirling his mold wine I didn't ask who by February 13th
I started avoiding them I told Matt I wasn't feeling great skipped the group activities he didn't seem to Notice how Daniel's gaze lingered on me or how Sophie barely spoke at all that night I woke up to use the bathroom the room was dark except for the glow of dying Embers in the fireplace I padded across the wooden floor still half asleep but as I passed the window something made me stop there was a figure standing at the edge of the trees not moving just watching my breath caught in my throat my mind scrambled for
explanations maybe it was Matt maybe Someone had wandered outside for some fresh air but deep down I knew neither of those things were true the figure just stood there a dark shape against the pale snow and then slowly it stepped backward into the woods I didn't wake Matt I don't know why maybe because saying it out loud would make it real maybe because I didn't want him to tell me I was imagining things the next morning Daniel and Sophie were gone Evelyn mentioned it casually at Breakfast they checked out early she said with a shrug
no explanation no goodbye that night Valentine's Day we had dinner in the lodge the room was filled with Candlelight the soft hum of conversation the occasional clinking of wine glasses it should have felt warm but something was wrong the spot where Daniel and Sophie usually sat was empty it shouldn't have mattered but it did the whole room felt off balance like something had been removed from it I Couldn't shake the feeling the unease that had been creeping up on me all week finally reaching its pee so I asked Evelyn how long had they been staying
here she frowned who I hesitated Daniel and Sophie the couple that left this morning she gave me a confused look shaking her head there was no couple by that name I felt my stomach drop but we had dinner with them we talked to them they were in Cabin 6 her expression didn't change cabin 6 has been empty all Week a cold wave washed over me I didn't sleep that night the next morning we packed up and left before breakfast neither of us spoke much during the drive I kept looking out the window expecting to see
something someone watching us from the trees I never found out who Daniel and Sophie really were or why I saw someone standing in the woods that night but every Valentine's Day since I wake up at exactly 2: a.m. and for just a second I swear I see a Shadow Outside my window breakups are weird everyone talks about the immediate pain the Heartbreak the tears the gut-wrenching realization that someone you loved is just gone but no one really warns you about the slow dragging Aftershock the small things the empty Sunday mornings when there's no one to
split coffee with the cold side of the bed that stays cold the inside jokes that don't make sense anymore because half of the joke walked out the Door it had been a few months but I was still dealing with the Fallout she kept the apartment I found a new place she kept the friend group I quietly left the group chats Fair probably but fair doesn't make it hurt less so like any other lonely idiot trying to get back out there I did what I swore I wouldn't do I downloaded a dating app now I didn't
expect much if you've ever used those apps you know what I mean it's like fishing in a lake where half the Fish are scammers and the other half are people who either never respond or give you one-word answers until you give up I swiped through people I had nothing in common with ignored the weirdly aggressive bios if you're under six feet don't even try and Dodge the Bots trying to convince me to sign up for some sketchy website but then there was Leah she was different or at least she seemed different her messages had personality
actual conversation not just a string of Emojis or a dry WID she was funny witty and best of all she lived nearby we spent a few days messaging back and forth mostly swapping stories about awful Valentine's Day experiences hers involved an ex who proposed after 3 months of dating mine involved accidentally sending flowers to my boss instead of my girlfriend long story it felt easy comfortable like talking to someone I already knew then the day before Valentine's she suggested we meet Up for a drink let's do it before the big day she said no pressure
no expectations I like that no need for over-the-top romance just two people looking for a little company I agreed we picked a bar near my place and that was that or at least I thought it was was the night of our Meetup I was running a little late nothing serious just the usual preate routine staring at my reflection for too long wondering if my jacket made me look like I was trying Too hard and debating whether two drinks for confidence was one too many when I finally stepped outside the cold air hit me like a
slap it was that deep kind of Winter Chill the kind that makes your breath fog up in front of you and sinks into your bones no matter how many layers you're wearing the streets were quieter than I expected a few couples strolled by bundled up and lost in their own little worlds it was one of those nights where the city just felt Different like something was missing I pulled out my phone and shot Leah a quick text on my way you there her reply came almost instantly hey yeah I'm here but it's crazy packed some
groups having a birthday party and it's way too loud I ducked into a quieter spot nearby I'll send you the location made sense when I got closer to the bar I could see what she meant people were practically spilling out onto the sidewalk laughter and cigarette smoke filling the air the Kind of place where you had to shout to be heard I wouldn't want to wait in there either then my phone buzzed again a restaurant's name and an address they're holding a table for us but hurry it's getting busy too I stopped walking we never
talked about dinner something about that small detail made my stomach twist it wasn't that weird right maybe she changed her mind last minute maybe she just got hungry but something didn't sit right I tapped the address to check The route the quickest way there was through an old side street one of those narrow alleys where the street lights barely work and the buildings feel like they're pressing in on you the other route was 10 minutes longer but stayed on the main roads I wasn't an idiot I took the long way as I walk I message
back might take a bit longer not walking through the alley her reply came instantly too fast come on it's fine just be quick I frowned the Casual Playful tone from earlier was gone then another message please I don't want to sit here alone I slowed down the street was empty too empty the kind of empty that makes you hyper aware of every sound my own footsteps the rustle of dry leaves the distant hum of traffic blocks away then another message where are you my pulse stuttered I wasn't even close to the restaurant yet how did
she know I wasn't moving I didn't reply my brain screamed at me to turn around go home Forget the whole thing but instead I walked faster my heart was hammering now breath coming shorter with every step the closer I got the worse the feeling grew like I was walking into something I couldn't see finally I reached the restaurant small dimly lit almost too quiet I stepped inside exhaling in relief it was nearly empty I shot off a quick text here where are you nothing the same person who had been spamming my phone minutes ago had
suddenly gone Completely silent a waiter passed by and I asked hey did a girl come in about my height dark hair he frowned shaking his head M no it's been slow all night my stomach Twisted no Leah no busy crowd no table being held I checked my phone one last time staring at the messages they were still there but they felt wrong like something was off about them them in a way I couldn't explain I didn't wait around to figure it out I booked in Uber and kept my back to the wall until The car
pulled up even when I got home I couldn't shake the feeling like I wasn't alone the next morning I opened the app Leah's profile was gone like she'd never existed at all I deleted the app and I stayed in that night Valentine's Day has always been a big deal for Rachel she's the type who starts planning a whole month in advance reservations little gifts handwritten notes all of it and honestly I love that about her but me I've always been more Of a last minute grab some flowers on the way home kind of guy not
because I don't care but because I've never been graded all the planning and romantic gestures but this year I wanted to do it right no scrambling no half-hearted efforts I had a plan I worked as a delivery driver for a catering company in Philly and that particular Valentine's Day my shift ended at 300 p.m. that was perfect it gave me plenty of time to pick up a reservation only Cake from this Boutique Bakery Rachel loved grab the Roses I had actually pre-ordered for once and get home early to set everything up for a perfect evening
at least that was the plan I rolled into the parking lot of the catering warehouse at 700 a.m. already feeling exhausted I hadn't gotten much sleep the night before stayed up too late wrapping Rachel's gift it was nothing too extravagant just a delicate gold necklace with a tiny heart charm Simple but meaningful I knew she'd love it but as soon as I got to work something felt off the place was eerily quiet the usual morning bustle the clattering of carts the beeping of trucks backing up the chatter of my co-workers was completely missing the big
metal doors on the loading dock were shut normally they were open with workers moving in and out loading up deliveries but not today and my boss's car gone that was weird Mr Callaway was Always here before anyone else the guy was a drill sergeant when it came to punctuality if you were even 5 minutes late you'd get an earful but today the parking lot was nearly empty I pulled out my phone and checked the time 7:05 a.m. maybe I was just early I leaned back in my seat and scrolled mindlessly for a few minutes but
something kept nagging at me by 7:15 when no one else had shown up up I started to feel uneasy I tried calling Callaway no answer I Called a couple of co-workers nothing then my phone buzzed a text from Rob one of the other drivers dude have you heard I frowned heard what there was a long pause before he finally responded alla's dead I sat up so fast I nearly dropped my phone what how another pause then I don't know the details cops found him at his house this morning in it's bad man I just stared
at the screen my stomach Twisted into a tight knot Mr Callaway dead I mean I wasn't close to him but I Had worked for the guy for 3 years he was strict sure borderline obsessive about time management but he wasn't a bad person he had a noons kind of attitude but he ran the company well the idea that he was gone just didn't seem real I called Rob immediately he picked up on the second ring are you serious I asked yeah man the cops are everywhere his whole street is blocked off I swallowed hard what
happened was it like an accident or something Rob exhaled Sharply I don't think so I heard something about a Breakin A Breakin that made my skin crawl I glanced out the window suddenly hyper aware of how quiet everything was I was about to drive over there Rob said you want to come I hesitated I wasn't sure if I wanted to see whatever was waiting at Callaway's place but at the same time I couldn't just sit here pretending like nothing had happened yeah I said I'll come 15 minutes later I was in Rob's Car Watching the
city blur past neither of us talked much the radio was on low but it might as well have been static when we turned onto Callaway Street we saw the flashing lights immediately police cars were parked haphazardly along the curb yellow crime scene tape stretched across the property keeping onlookers at Bay a few neighbors stood outside in clusters murmuring to each other Rob pulled over and we got out Callaway's house was small and unassuming single Story white siding an Old Port swing hanging lopsided from the front just a normal house except for the open front door
cops were moving in and out their radios crackling and from the murmurs around us I picked up bits and pieces enough to paint a picture I really didn't want to see Callaway had been tied to a chair beaten tortured left like that all night I felt a cold chill creep up my spine why I muttered more to myself than anyone else who the hell Would do something like that Rob just shook his head his jaw was tight his hands stuffed in his hoodie Pockets over the next few days the full story came out and with
every detail it got worse it was a couple a man and a woman they broke into Callaway's house the night before Valentine's Day convinced he had some kind of money stash hidden away he did but they didn't believe him so they kept going for hours and the most messed up Part they did it for Valentine's Day they needed money for a fancy dinner a hotel some jewelry that's what it came down to Callaway suffered died because two people wanted to have a luxury Valentine's night the cops caught them within 24 hours they weren't exactly criminal
masterminds they got arrested at a cheap motel drinking champagne and eating chocolate covered strawberries and guess what they used to pay for it Callaway's credit card I couldn't wrap My head around it the sheer stupidity the cruelty the absolute waste of it all Valentine's Day was supposed to be about love about appreciating the people who matter but for Callaway it had become the worst night of his life and his last that night I went to Rachel's place I sat her down and told her everything she listened quietly her fingers laid through mine eyes wide when
I finished she squeezed my hand do you still want to go out tonight she asked softly I Thought about it about everything about how fast life could flip upside down after a long moment I shook my head let's just stay in I said because For the First Time I really understood how fast things could change how love the thing we celebrate with roses and chocolates could be twisted into something dark and how a single night one That was supposed to be filled with warmth and joy could leave scars that never really Heal I wasn't expecting
much from Valentine's Day not because I had anything against it really it's not like I sat around sulking while couples paraded their love around in public like some walking talking heart-shaped advertisement but I guess after enough years of either being single or watching a relationship fizzle out right before for February 14th you stop expecting anything from it this year was no different I'd made peace with the idea Of spending the night alone just me a mountain of takeout and some random movie that I'd pretend I hadn't already seen a dozen times maybe a drink or
two maybe I'd scroll through social media and pretend it didn't bother me that everyone else seemed to have someone and then of course my best friend Nate had to throw a wrench in my plans dude his grin was way too smug as he shoved a red invitation into my hands like it was some golden ticket singles mixer no Pressure no expectations just drinks Vibes and the possibility of not being a lonely Sad Sack on Valentine's Day I gave him a flat look that sounds exactly like pressure and expectations he waved a dismissive hand oh please
it's literally a bar full of single people it's like shooting fish in a barrel that sounds ethical Nate groaned come on man one night one drink if it sucks I'll buy you dinner I side I wanted to say no but he knew me too well if there was free Food involved I'd at least consider it and honestly as much as I like to pretend Valentine's Day didn't get to me the idea of spending it watching couples post perfectly filtered pictures of their candlelit dinners wasn't exactly thrilling so against my better judgment I went the bar
was decorated like cupid himself had thrown up all over the place red and pink everywhere heartshaped balloons floated near the ceiling little fairy lights twisted around the bar and The whole place had this dim Moody lighting that was clearly designed to make everyone look at least 30% more attractive someone was playing soft jazz on a saxophone in the corner which felt a little too on the nose I took a deep breath grabbed a drink and reminded myself that I was not here to meet anyone I was here to prove Nate wrong collect my free dinner
and go home that was the plan and then I saw her she was sitting at the far end of the bar a Glass of wine in her hand idly twirling the stem between her fingers dark curls framed her face cascading over her shoulders like they had a mind of their own she wasn't talking to anyone wasn't checking her phone wasn't desperately trying to look approachable she was just there present like she was waiting for something or someone I didn't realize I'd been staring until Nate elbowed me dude go talk to her I scoffed yeah because
walking up to a woman at a Singles mixer is so original Nate rolled his eyes that's literally the entire point of this event just go what's the worst that happens she tells you to screw off I hesitated normally I'd overthink it normally I'd let the moment pass and and then regret it later but there was something about her before I could talk myself out of it I found my feet moving I walked over leaned casually against the bar and said you look like you got dragged here too she Glanced up surprised for just a second
then a slow smirk tugged at the corner of her lips you guilty that was all I needed her name was Maya and she had the best kind of humor the kind that made you work for the joke but when you got it it was worth it she didn't just laugh at things she observed them Twisted them into something clever something unexpected we spent the next hour swapping stories about our worst Valentine's days I once had a guy Propose to me on Valentine's Day she said taking a sip of her wine my eyebrows shot up wait
propose like with a ring oh yeah he went full cliche rose pedals a violinist a waiter filming the whole thing like we were in some kind of Hallmark movie I blinked wow ow and what happened I said no I let out a low whistle brutal she Shrugged he was cheating on me at the time so I'd say it was fair I nearly choked on my drink Jesus now that's a story the Conversation flowed effortlessly the mixer faded into the background the chatter of other singles the clinking of glasses the terrible saxophone rendition of can't help
falling in love it all blurred into white noise it was just me and and her talking like we'd known each other forever then out of nowhere she grabbed my hand come on she said pulling me toward the dance floor I resisted oh no bad idea oh come on she teased what's the worst that happens you embarrass Yourself uh yes that is exactly what happens she rolled her eyes Just One Dance against my better judgment I let her drag me onto the floor I stepped on her foot within the first 30 seconds she just laughed I
did too and for the first time in a long time I wasn't overthinking anything I was just there in the moment and then just when I was about to ask if she wanted to go somewhere quieter she checked her phone her smile faltered I should go she said Slipping her phone into her bag my stomach sank already she hesitated like she was debating something then finally she sighed reached into her purse and pulled out a folded nap I'm really glad I met you tonight she pressed it into my hand don't lose this and before I
could ask what she meant she was gone I stood there for a second a little dazed then I looked down at the napkin in small neat handwriting there was an address and below it just three words tomorrow 700 P.m. I didn't know what to expect maybe it was a joke maybe it was some kind of test but I knew one thing for sure for the first time in years Valentine's Day they didn't feel like a complete waste I never thought my worst Valentine's Day would also be the one I'd never forget I mean bad dates
happen maybe the restaurant screws up your order or your partner forgets to get you a gift or someone has a little too much wine and says something they shouldn't But this this was something else it was supposed to be a simple romantic weekend just me and my girlfriend Hannah we'v been together for 2 years and this was our first real trip just the two of us no work emails no family obligations no distractions just us a cozy cabin in the mountains and enough wine to make sure we never got bored I found this Airbnb up
in the woods about an hour and a half outside of town the listing described it as a secluded getaway with no neighbors For miles at the time that sounded perfect peaceful private a chance to really connect looking back I wish I'd picked a hotel the first night was everything I hoped for we cooked dinner together well mostly Hannah since I tend to burn anything that isn't toast we had way too much wine and ended up dancing in the tiny living room laughing like idiots when it got late we exchanged gifts she gave me this beautiful
leather journal because she knew I always talked About writing more I gave her a necklace with our initials engraved on it she teared up up which made me feel like I actually did something right for once it was the kind of night you remember years later in smile the kind that makes you think yeah this person I could spend forever with them and then just like that everything changed I woke up sometime after midnight to the sound of footsteps outside at first I wasn't even sure I'd really heard it I was still Groggy wrapped up
in that warm post- wine Haze but then there it was again a slow steady crunch of snow I held my breath listening could have been an animal I told myself a deer maybe or a fox but no these weren't quick skittering movements they were slow deliberate someone was walking outside our cabin I turned my head toward Hannah still asleep beside me her breathing was soft steady I debated waking her up but I didn't want to scare her over nothing Instead I carefully slid out of bed and tiptoed toward the window the fire we lit outside
earlier had burned down to just Embers casting a faint orange glow over the snow just enough light for me to see a figure standing near the trees my stomach dropped he wasn't moving just standing there watching I couldn't make out his face just the outline of his body the way his shoulders seemed unnaturally stiff the air inside the cabin suddenly felt too thin like I Couldn't get enough oxygen I let the curtain fall back into place and stepped away from the window my mind raced maybe he was lost maybe he didn't even know we were
here I lay back down eyes wide open heart pounding I told myself if I just waited just listened maybe he'd go away eventually after what felt like hours the footsteps faded the next morning I told Hannah about it over breakfast she furrowed her brows but Shrugged probably just a hiker she said stirring her Coffee or a hunter people come out to these areas all the time I nodded pretending to agree but deep down I knew better that night I wasn't taking any chances I double checked every lock on the doors and windows closed all the
curtains left the fire outside burning a little longer as if that tiny flickering light would somehow keep us safe I don't know what time it was when I woke up again this time it wasn't footsteps it was a knock at the door three soft Steady Taps I sat up so fast my vision swam my chest felt tight next to me Hannah mumbled something in her sleep shifting under the covers then another knock louder this time I reached for my phone on the nightstand no service of course swallowing hard I forced myself to speak hello silence
then just as I was about to back away I heard it oh whisper right outside the door I see you I froze my skin went cold Hannah stirred beside me rubbing her eyes what's going On I held up a finger sh my legs felt like they weren't even attached to my body as I moved toward the window my breath coming in Shallow bursts and then I saw him the same man from last night standing right on our porch this time I could see him clearly he was tall unshaven wearing a filthy oversized jacket his arms
hung Loosely at his sides but his fingers twitched slightly like he was holding back some kind of energy his eyes were what got me they Were empty Hollow like he was looking through me not at me I turned to Hannah my voice barely a whisper get dressed we're leaving now she didn't argue we grabbed what we could stuffing clothes into bags with shaky hands I kept glancing at the door half expecting it to fly open at any second but when we finally opened it he was gone the porch was empty the trees Stood Still no
Footprints no movement nothing I didn't stop to wonder where he went we jumped Into the car locked the doors and peeled out of their so fast I nearly skidded off the road we didn't stop until we reached a gas station with full cell service miles away it was past 4 a.m. I called the Airbnb owner breathless my hands still shaking on the wheel no one else should have been up there they said no kidding we never went back left our bags our food everything I cancelled the rest of the trip that was 3 years ago
and I still think about it especially on Valentine's Day I try to tell myself it was just some random guy passing through some trespasser nothing more but then I remember that whisper I see you and I wonder if somewhere out there he still does I used to love Valentine's Day the flowers the chocolates the little notes tucked inside bouquets it was always something I looked forward to even when I was single there was something about the whole atmosphere that felt magical like maybe that year would be the year I'd meet someone special I don't feel
that way anymore now every time February rolls around I just try to pretend it doesn't exist and it all goes back to last year the year I learned that not all love stories are meant to have Happy Endings it started in the most ordinary way on a dating app I'd been on and off those apps for a while swiping through the usual sea of half-hearted selfies Jim Mir picks and bios that said things like fluent and sarcasm or just ask Which let's be honest is just code for I have nothing interesting to say about myself
but then I came across Alex there was something different about him his pictures weren't the usual over filtered tryhard kind just natural casual shots one of of him laughing at some rooftop party another in a bookstore flipping through a novel and one where he was sitting on a park bench holding a coffee it didn't feel staged like he was trying to prove anything and his bio simple but With actual person if you're into good books road trips and coffee shops that play Old Jazz records we'll probably get along just fine I don't know why but
I felt drawn to him maybe because I was into those things maybe because for the the first time in a while I saw a profile that felt real not just some guy flexing in a bathroom mirror or posing with a fish he caught so I swiped right and we matched from the first conversation he was different he wasn't One of those guys who jumped straight into flirty lines or weirdly personal questions he actually wanted to talk we started off with books our favorites the ones that changed us the ones we swore we'd read but never
actually did then music he had this thing about old records about how digital music could never really capture the warmth of vinyl he even made me a playlist full of slow dreamy songs that felt like they Belonged in a dimly lit Cafe on a rainy afternoon by the end of the first week talking to him felt natural comfortable like I'd known him longer than just a few days by the second week I was looking forward to his messages more than I wanted to admit by the third I was hooked then on the morning of Valentine's
Day I woke up to a text I have a surprise for you check your front door I was still half asleep blinking at my phone trying to process what I was Reading a surprise I paded over to my front door heart pounding for no reason that made sense and when I opened it there it was a beautifully wrapped box tied with a deep red ribbon my stomach flipped as I knelt down and picked it up the box wasn't just some random last minute gift it was Heavy solid like actual thought had gone into whatever ever
was inside I carried it inside set it on my coffee table and carefully untied the ribbon the wrapping paper Crinkled as I pulled it back and when I lifted the lid I sucked in a breath inside Was An Elegant black dress smooth and silky under my fingertips and a pair of designer heels that I could tell just from the feel of them weren't cheap but what really stopped me was the note a simple handwritten card resting on top of the dress wear this tonight I want our first date to be special see you at 700
my heart should have been thrilled but instead it stuttered because Something isn't adding up I never told him my dress size I never told him my shoe size and more importantly I never told him my address I sat there staring at the Box my stomach twisting into something tight and uneasy I tried to tell myself there was a logical explanation maybe he had guessed the size maybe he had figured out my address from something I'd posted or mentioned in past ing maybe maybe I was overthinking it so I ignored the nagging Feeling in my gut
I put on the dress the heels even did my makeup a little nicer than usual because this was supposed to be romantic right a guy going out of his way to make a first date special I wanted it to be romantic by 700 p.m. I was at the restaurant a small intimate place with low lighting candles flickering on the tables soft music playing in the background but but there was no Alex I checked my phone no texts no missed calls I waited 10 minutes 20 30 the waiter kept glancing at me probably wondering why I
was sitting alone at a table for two the longer I sat there the more stupid I felt just as I was about to leave a waiter walked over are you Lauren I nodded he handed me a small wrapped box I just stared at it a strange sinking feeling in my chest someone left this for you earlier he added I barely managed to mumble a thank you before he walked away with shaking hands I peeled back the wrapping paper And opened the box inside was a delicate silver necklace a small heart pendant and another note you
look beautiful I've been watching you all night I dropped the Box my breath hitched my heart hammering against my ribs as I Whi my head around searching who was watching me where were they I felt exposed like every single person in that restaurant could see me but I couldn't see them I grabbed my things and practically ran out of the restaurant dialing my best Friend Emily with trembling hands she told me to come straight to her place I didn't look back that night I couldn't sleep I lay on Emily's couch phone clutched in my hand
heart still racing and then at 3:00 a.m. my screen lit up an unknown number I saw you leave you should have worn the necklace I blocked the number so fast my fingers humbled by morning Emily convinced me to go to the police but they told me the same thing they always do no actual crime was Committed that night we checked the front door it was another box Wrapped in Red paper we didn't open it we threw it away and left every light on within a month I deleted every dating app changed my number moved to
a new apartment and this year when Valentine's Day came around I stayed inside no dates no surprises no gifts because now I know better not all love stories are meant to have Happy Endings it all started last year I was 25 working at a midsize marketing company drowning in emails and deadlines and hopelessly ridiculously in love with my cooworker Jake now I know what you're thinking office crushes are a bad idea and normally I'd agree but Jake he wasn't just any coworker he was the guy the kind of guy who had that natural charm who
made you feel like you were the only person in the room when he talked to you he had this easy confidence like he never had to try too Hard but not in an arrogant way and the worst part he was kind not just polite genuinely kind the kind of guy who remembered the smallest details who noticed when you were having a bad day and made you laugh who picked up your favorite snack without asking just because he happened to see it and thought of you so yeah I fell hard we worked on a big Campaign
together which meant long hours countless strategy meetings and inside jokes that started Piling up like little secrets just between us somewhere along the way the late night text became more than just work at first they were about deadlines then about random things then full-blown conversations about music life childhood memories I started waking up excited to check my phone just to see his name there and then 2 weeks before Valentine's Day he asked me out we were in the breakroom pretending to care about the office coffee when he just Casually dropped so do you have any
plans for Valentine's my brain went into full meltdown mode was this happening was he asking me I forced myself to play it cool Shrugged and said not yet why he grinned that stupidly perfect grin that had probably Charmed a hundred girls before me let me take you out I swear the world slowed down for a second I tried to act casual but inside fireworks absolute chaos I said yes obviously the next two weeks were pure torturous Anticipation he kept teasing me about a big surprise dropping hints about a restaurant I'd love even sending texts like
do I go classic suit and tie or do I aim for effortlessly cool red roses cliche or classic he cared or at least that's what it felt like my friends at work were just as excited telling me over and over he's totally into you guys don't put this much effort in unless they mean it I believed them I believed him then the night finally arrived I Spent way too much time picking out the perfect dress something that struck the right balance between elegant and effortless I redid my makeup twice the whole time I felt that
familiar nervous excited feeling in my chest the kind that only comes when something feels like it could be life-changing I arrived at the restaurant a few minutes early heart pounding looking around for him and then I saw him sitting at a table with another girl at first I thought Maybe I had made a mistake maybe it wasn't him maybe it was a coincidence but then she reached across the table and took his hand her fingers curling around his like it was the most natural thing in the world he laughed that same laugh I had memorized
eyes the one that made his eyes crinkle just slightly at the corners then he leaned in whispered something to her and she smiled like he had just told her the sweetest secret something inside me cracked I just stood There Frozen my stomach twisting in ways I didn't think were possible my ears started ringing my face felt hot but my hands were ice cold and then I saw it the Valentine's Day card on the table right between them my breath caught in my throat his handwriting was all over the front of it that was it that
was the final blow I didn't cry I didn't storm over I didn't cause a scene I just turned around and walked straight out I don't even remember how I got home I Must have driven but it felt like my body was moving on autopilot while my brain shut down replaying every moment every text every joke every tiny little piece of hope I had built up over the last few weeks had I imagined everything had I misread all of it had I been nothing more than a joke to him two days that's how long it took
him to text me hey sorry about the other night didn't know how to tell you I wasn't serious about us hope you're cool cool I stared At my screen reading it over and over again as if there was some hidden meaning I was missing as if those words would somehow rearrange themselves into an apology that actually meant something I wanted to scream at him to demand answers to ask why he led me on why he wasted my time why he made me feel special when I was just another option he never plan to take seriously
but I didn't I deleted his number removed him from my life in every way possible but The damage that stayed now Valentine's Day isn't about love it's not about flowers or chocolates or grand gestures now it's just a reminder that some people will let you believe in something beautiful just to rip it away when you least expect it I never thought I'd spend Valentine's Day like this alone half-heartedly scrolling through my phone like I was expecting a message that wasn't coming the plan was supposed to be different my Best friend Mia had invited me over
for a cozy movie night blankets wine and way too much chocolate after her date bailed on her last minute we were supposed to laugh at bad romcoms and pretend the holiday didn't exist it was our tradition something we always did when one of us ended up single on February 14th but then in a shocking and yet completely unsurprising turn of events her ex had a sudden Revelation about how much he truly loved her and wanted her Back and just like that she was back in his arms and I was back to square one ditched for
a guy who let's be honest was probably going to ghost her again in a month so there I was sitting in the corner of this quiet little cafe picking at the chipped rim of my coffee cup listening to the murmur of convers ations around me the place was warm filled with the scent of espresso and something sweet cinnamon maybe I like this Cafe even though I usually came Here during the day when it was filled with students and remote workers not couples feeding each other overpriced desserts I should have left I should have gone home
curled up under a blanket and put on some comfort show that I'd already seen a dozen times but for some reason I stay maybe it was the soft hum of Jazz playing in the background maybe it was the way the city outside felt a little too cold and lonely tonight or maybe deep down I was waiting for my Phone to light up and then as if the universe had a twisted sense of humor it did my phone vibrated the small notification glowing against the dimly lit table unknown number hey it's Jake we matched on love
link last week mind if I join you I frowned Jake the name sounded Vaguely Familiar but no immediate face or conversation came to mind I had swiped through so many profiles over the past few weeks that they had started blending together there Was a guy I thought with warm brown eyes and a nice easygoing smile maybe that was him but something was off I didn't remember giving him my number me how did you get my number the response was immediate almost too fast Jake it was in your bio said you were looking for real connections
so so I figured I'd take a shot I blinked at my screen that uneasy feeling creeping into my chest that was a lie I never put my number in my dating profile I knew better than that I reread The message feeling the smallest prickle of doubt maybe I had given it to him maybe I'd been in a weird mood and had thrown caution to the wind maybe I just didn't remember or maybe I was overreacting I hesitated for a moment then typed back I don't remember that but sure I'm at Cafe Verona the second I
hit send I regretted it I didn't even know why I said yes maybe cuz I was bored maybe cuz I felt a little pathetic sitting here alone watching couples Exchange little gifts and whispered promises or maybe because deep down I just wanted to believe that something good might actually happen tonight I watched the entrance my heartbeat a little too fast for my liking less than 2 minutes later the door chimed a guy walked in tall confident but casual like someone who was used to making an entrance his clothes were simple a dark hoodie fitted jeans
and a relaxed posture that made him seem approachable His eyes flicked around the room until they landed on me and he smiled hi he said smoothly flashing a grin as he slid into the chair across from me not even a may I sit here just sat hope I'm not crashing your solo date his voice was warm familiar in that way some people's voices just are like someone you've met before but can't quite place it should have put me at ease but it didn't I forced a polite smile Jake right that's me he leaned forward like
we were Already in the middle of a deep conversation didn't expect to see you alone on Valentine's a girl like you I figured you'd have a line of guys waiting I let out a short dry laugh yeah well plans fell through well lucky me his smile was friendly but his eyes they were watching me too closely studying me something about it fell off I shifted slightly wrapping my hands around my coffee cup even though it had gone cold so you said we matched last week yeah he Tilted his head still watching me like he was
sizing me up you swiped right on me so I must be your type what is your type anyway his tone was playful flirty even but not in a natural way more like he was trying to figure something out I reached for my phone considering a polite excuse to leave and that's when I saw it his hands a small red mark just above his wrist like a scratch or an imprint from something tight my stomach flipped because I'd seen that Mark Before a few days ago I had been scrolling through love link when a guy named
Timothy corx messaged me we chatted briefly before I got a weird gut feeling and unmatched him but I remembered one of his photos he had the exact same red mark on his wrist I felt my pulse in my throat coincidence Maybe but my gut was screaming at me I pushed my chair back and stood forcing a casual smile I just remembered I have to be somewhere Jake's expression didn't Change but something flickered in his eyes he tilted his head slightly like he was studying me calculating that's a shame he murmured I was really hoping we
could connect his fingers tapped lightly against the table I glanced down his phone was open the screen was lit up with an active chat window my name was at the top a sick twisting feeling bloomed in my stomach I turned and walked out keeping my Pace steady even though every Instinct in me screamed to Run the second I hit the sidewalk I pulled out my phone and blocked his number my hands were shaking I didn't know if I was overreacting or if I had just dodged something really bad by the time I got home my
nerves had settled just a little maybe I was being ridiculous maybe he was just socially awkward maybe I had built this whole thing up in my head but later that night as I was checking my door triple checking the lock my phone buzzed a new Message from an unknown number you looked even prettier in person my breath caught Happy Valentine's day I'll see you soon I didn't sleep that night I've never been someone who goes overboard for Valentine's Day sure I'll buy flowers book a nice dinner maybe write a sweet little note if I'm feeling
extra thoughtful but the whole over the toop rose petals on the bed Grand romantic gestures thing not my style this year though was different I'd been Seeing Sarah for about 3 months and from the very beginning she was unlike anyone I'd ever dated she had this way of making small things feel magical the way she get excited over handwritten letters how she always found meaning in the little details she loved everything about Valentine's Day cheesy gifts pink and red decorations those ridiculous candy hearts with messages printed on them and honestly the way she talked about
it the way her eyes lit up it made Me want to make it special so I planned something I'd never done before a surprise weekend getaway at a small secluded cabin just outside the city something intimate cozy a quiet place where we could have the weekend to ourselves away from work away from everything I put in the effort I booked a place not through Airbnb or some major Hotel chain but through a small family run rental site the reviews all raved about it a Hidden Gem perfect for Couples romantic and peaceful I even mapped out
the whole weekend a homemade pasta dinner a playlist of all the music Sarah loved candles wine the whole thing it was going to be perfect or at least that's what I thought we left Friday afternoon just as the sun was starting to dip the drive itself was beautiful long stretch of Road cutting through snowy Hills the occasional glimpse of frozen rivers reflecting the Golden Light Sarah was in a great mood humming Along to the music laughing at my terrible attempts to sing we talked about random things her favorite Valentine's Day memories how I had none
to contribute the absurdly overpriced heart-shaped trinkets we'd seen at the last gas station the deeper we drove into the woods the quieter everything became the main Highway faded behind us replaced by narrower roads roads winding deeper into the trees the branches hung heavy with snow casting long twisting Shadows I had expected to pass a few other cabins along the way but strangely we didn't see any no other cars no signs of life just us the trees by the time we pulled up to the cabin the sun had fully set leaving only The Pale Light of
the Moon reflecting off the snow the place was Charming in that rustic Old World Way wouldn't be beams a wraparound porch a slanted roof weighed down by fresh snow Beyond it the frozen lake stretched out covered in a thick sheet of ice the Air was still almost too still for a second I just sat there Hands on the Wheel staring at the dark Windows of the cabin something about it felt off like we were intruding but then Sarah let out a happy sigh it's perfect she said squeezing my hand and just like that the uneasy
feeling disappeared at least for a while the moment we stepped inside I noticed the first problem it was cold not just winter air cold deep bone chilling cold the kind that doesn't go Away with a warm coat the heating was technically on humming through the vents but no matter how much I fiddled with the thermostat the cabin refused to warm up the air felt stale like it had been sitting untouched for months I pulled out my phone to message the rental owner no signal Sarah ever The Optimist wrapped herself in a blanket and flopped onto
the couch honestly I kind of love it she said with a grin it's like a survival Adventure but with wine I Laughed shaking my head yeah well if we have to start rationing food I'm eating your chocolate stash first that earned me a pillow to the face I built a fire in the old stone fireplace and within an hour the place started to feel warmer between the flickering Flames the soft music from my phone and the way Sarah curled up beside me on the couch all my earlier weird feelings faded for the first time I
felt like maybe this weekend really would be perfect then we Heard the knock it was soft almost hesitant Sarah froze her wine glass halfway to her lips I frowned glancing at the door did you hear another knock I stood up peeking through the small window nothing just the porch the snow and the dark woods Beyond probably just the wind I said though even I didn't believe it it Sarah nodded slowly but didn't look convinced 15 minutes later another knock same quiet deliberate sound my stomach tightened the uneasy Feeling was back heavier this time I checked
again nothing I made sure the door was locked and reassured Sarah it was probably just the old cabin settling but I didn't sit back down because the knocking kept happening not often not in a pattern just every so often a single patient knock then silent Sarah clutched her blanket tighter maybe it's the owner checking in we would have heard a car I said and they'd call first right she didn't answer I grabbed my Coat there's only one way to find out the moment I stepped outside I regretted it the cold was brutal sharp against my
skin the porch creaked under my weight as I scanned the area the trees stood silent their branches heavy with snow and then I saw it a small heart-shaped box of chocolates sitting neatly on the porch I hadn't put it there my stomach dropped I bent down hesitating before picking it up the box was unmarked no note just a simple Red Heart Something Told Me Not to open it but I did inside there weren't chocolates there was a single crumpled photograph of me and Sarah taken earlier that day Sarah let out a sharp breath covering her
mouth before I could reacted the knocking started again louder more insistent I grabbed the fire poker heart pounding in and yanked the door open nothing then in the tree line barely visible in the Moonlight a figure standing perfectly still watching they didn't move they Didn't speak they just stood there that was it I grabbed Sarah's hand we ran we didn't pack we didn't look back we jumped into the car locked the doors and tore out of there as fast as the icy Road would allow by the time we reached a spot with cell service I
called the owner his response made my blood turn to ice you should have been there he said his voice tight that listing was taken down over a year ago after what happened I pressed for details he refused to say More to this day I have no idea who left that box or how they got that picture of us all I know is Valentine's Day will never feel the same again
