Sophie's words hung in the air, absurd and unsettling. "Blank notes?" I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper. Sophie's expression turned cautious, as if she feared she'd said too much.
"Yeah, I've always wanted to ask you," she said hesitantly. "You and Dr. Brooke would come in here, and you'd always leave a blank note along with your message. I thought it was some kind of game or inside joke."
My mind reeled as I tried to process what Sophie was telling me. Blank notes? What did it mean? I felt a shiver run down my spine as Sophie continued to explain, her words distant and muffled.
"...and then I took that video because I saw Dr. Brooke observing you with a worried look..."
I tuned back in, my eyes fixed on Sophie's lips as she spoke. She was trying to explain something, but all I could think about was the video. I had to see it.
The video played on repeat in my mind, each viewing raising more questions. How did I not notice? What was going on? The more I watched, the more I felt like I was losing my grip on reality.
I don't know how I left the bakery or what I said to Sophie. Everything was a blur. I wandered the streets, searching for any sign of Noah, but there was nothing. No traces, no clues, just an overwhelming sense of emptiness.
Tears streamed down my face as I walked, the hot summer air feeling cold and oppressive. Strangers passed by, giving me curious glances, but I didn't care. I felt like I was stuck in a nightmare, unable to wake up.
Time lost all meaning as I wandered, my mind consumed by questions. Why? How? What was real? The pain was suffocating, making it hard to breathe.
Eventually, I found myself back at the apartment, the silence and emptiness overwhelming. I collapsed onto the couch, exhausted and broken. The room seemed to spin around me, and everything went dark.