I decided to take the opportunity when Ben mentioned our friends. “I want to meet up with my friends later tonight,” I said, trying to sound casual. “You can come too.”

Ben’s expression changed slightly, and he shook his head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. I still have work to finish tonight, and the doctor said you should be resting this week.”

I tried to keep my voice steady as I replied, “It’s just coffee. Nothing will happen if I go out for a little while.”

Ben frowned, his tone firm. “Sorry, but no. It’s really better for you to stay home right now. They can come over tomorrow if you want.”

“When you’re at work?” I asked, my heart pounding a bit faster.

Ben hesitated, then said, “Maybe I can leave work early, or they might still be here when I get back.”

Earlier, I had texted my friends, asking if I was really dating Ben. I’d just received a reply. “Yes, Ben’s great!” Catherine wrote. “What kind of question is that? Of course, you’re dating; we even went to a baseball game together,” Stacey replied.

I decided to test Ben. “Do you remember when we went to the baseball game with Stacey?” I asked, watching his reaction closely.

Ben looked confused. “What? Did you remember something?” he asked, his voice cautious. “But we never went to a baseball game. You must be mixing things up.”

His response sent a cold shiver down my spine. The lie was so smooth, so casual, yet I knew Stacey wouldn’t make something like that up. I felt a deepening sense of dread, realizing that Ben wasn’t who he claimed to be.

Fear surged through me, and I knew I had to get out of there. Without thinking, I pushed back my chair and bolted from the table, heading straight for the front door.

Ben’s voice called after me, panic lacing his words as he tried to grab my arm, but I twisted away, my heart pounding in my chest. I yanked the door open and dashed into the hallway, slamming the door behind me.

My legs felt shaky, but I forced myself to keep moving until I reached the elevator. The moment the doors closed, I took a deep breath, my mind racing. When I finally made it outside, I didn’t stop running.

I heard Ben shouting my name from the window above, but I didn’t look back. When I was far enough away, I pulled out my phone, hands trembling, and called Officer Ryan.

“Hello? This is Scarlett,” I said, my voice shaking. “Ben isn’t my boyfriend. He’s the stalker.”

Ten minutes later, I found myself sitting in Officer Ryan’s car, tears streaming down my face as I sobbed uncontrollably. The fear was overwhelming.

“Everything will be okay,” Officer Ryan said gently. “You’re safe now. The police will catch him, I promise.”

Officer Ryan brought me to his home and quietly made some hot tea, the warmth of the cup helping to calm my trembling hands.

“You can stay here as long as you need,” he said.

“Thank you so much,” I replied, still trembling.

“It’s okay, Scar,” Officer Ryan said, trying to comfort me.

“Scar?” I asked, the nickname catching me off guard. “That’s what they used to call me in school.”

“Sorry if that upset you. I thought it was a pretty common nickname for your name.”

“No, it’s okay,” I assured him. “It’s just unusual to hear it again.”

He smiled warmly at me, and I felt a bit more at ease. But the calm didn’t last long. Outside, I noticed the sudden flash of police lights reflecting on the walls.

Officer Ryan glanced out the window and then quickly checked his phone, his expression unreadable. As he did, my eyes drifted to a pile of ropes and carabiners near the couch.

“What are those for?” I asked.

“Oh, I’m into rock climbing,” he explained casually.

“I used to do that in school too,” I said. “It was fun.”

“Yeah, it is,” he replied. “Scarlett, I’m sorry, but I need to step out for a bit. It’s work-related. If anything happens, call me immediately.”

“Of course.”

After Officer Ryan left the apartment, the fear that Ben might find me there crept back, stronger than before. As the minutes turned into hours, my anxiety grew.

I kept glancing at the door, half-expecting it to open at any moment. I tried calling Officer Ryan several times, but each call went straight to voicemail. To distract myself, I wandered over to a bookshelf, where a familiar yearbook caught my eye.

I pulled it out and flipped through the pages, my heart skipping a beat when I realized it was from my school. Officer Ryan’s photo was there; we had graduated in the same year. But his face sparked no memory.

Desperate for answers, I took a picture of his photo and sent it to my friends, hoping someone might recognize him. But the message remained unread. Just then, my phone rang—it was Ben.