The tires of Celeste's silver sedan crunched over the pristine gravel driveway as she pulled into the estate, her fingers tightening slightly around the steering wheel as she sighed in relief.
The six-hour drive had left her muscles stiff and her delicate features drawn with exhaustion. She turned off the engine and leaned back against the headrest, closing her eyes for just a moment as the silence of the car enveloped her.
Finally.
She exhaled slowly, savoring the quiet.
She's finally free.
No more shouting or argument echoing through the halls of her childhood home.
No more pitiful glances from neighbors who had somehow become privy to her parents' messy and chaotic divorce.
Celeste opened her eyes and checked her GPS once more, confirming she was in the right place.
A small, relieved smile tugged at her lips as she looked around.
She hadn't expected much when she decided to escape to her cousin's Jesse place for a break until she'd figured how to put her life back on track.
Last she'd visited, he was living in a cramped one-room apartment on the outskirts of the town, the kind of place where the heating barely worked in winter.
But this?
Her gaze swept over the elegant, modern complex before her. Lush greenery framed the walkways, and the building itself was sleek, all clean lines and large windows that reflected the late afternoon sun.
A far cry from the dingy place she remembered.
"Such good taste".
She chuckled to herself, shaking her head.
She then reached for the rearview mirror, angling it toward herself. The face staring back was hers, but tired, there were dark circles under her hazel eyes, her sandy blonde hair was pulled into a messy bun, strands escaping in every direction.
She smoothed a hand over her ponytail, tucking a few loose strands behind her ear.
She then grabbed her phone from the passenger seat and a twinge of guilt pricked at her as she scrolled to search for Jesse's contact.
She'd just realized that she hadn't exactly given him a heads-up about her early arrival.
She'd been so desperate to escape, not just from her parents' warzone, but also from the suffocating presence of her ex-boyfriend who seemed incapable of understanding the word "no".
So she'd thrown her schedule out the window and left town five days early from her initial plan.
The phone rang once.
Twice.
No answer.
Celeste sighed, dropping the device into her lap.
She wasn't surprised. Jesse worked odd hours and knowing him, he was probably knee-deep in some project, his phone forgotten in his back pocket but she also knew he'll call back immediately he got her call.
Well, she couldn't sit in the car forever while waiting for his call so she unbuckled her seatbelt and stepped out, the warm air immediately wrapping around her.
She stretched, rolling her shoulders before popping the trunk. Her car was packed to the brim, filled with suitcases, boxes of books, a duffel bag stuffed with clothes she'd haphazardly thrown in during her rushed packing.
She grabbed the nearest suitcase, heaving it onto the pavement with a grunt.
"Okay. One trip at a time".
The estate was quiet, save for the distant chirping of birds and the hum of a lawnmower somewhere on the property.
She wheeled her suitcase toward the building, the wheels clicking rhythmically against the pavement.
The lobby was sleek and minimalist, the air cool and lightly scented with something floral. She headed straight for the elevator, pressing the button for the eighth floor just as Jesse had told her days ago.
As the doors slid shut, she tried Jesse again.
This time, he picked up on the second ring.
"Hey, Blondie". His voice came through, playful and bright as always.
And Celeste couldn't help but smile. "Hey. So, funny story. I'm currently standing outside your apartment."
There was a beat of silence on the other line before Jesse exclaimed.
"You're what?".
"Yeah. I, uh… may have left town a little earlier than scheduled ."
"Oh my goodness ". His tone was equally exasperated and amused. "You were supposed to give me, like a warning or something Celeste . Don't you think?".
"I know, I know. I just …".
She exhaled, leaning against the elevator wall. "I needed to get out of there, Jesse. You have no idea how bad it's gotten."
There was a pause on Jesse's line before he muttered softly. "Yeah. I get it."
Relief immediately flooded her and she smiled. Jesse had always been the one person who didn't need explanations to understand her.
"Alright, well but here's a bad news. I'm out of town for work. Won't be back till the day after tomorrow."
Celeste groaned. "Seriously?".
"Hey, if you'd called…"
"I know, I know. Okay. My bad." She said as she pinched the bridge of her nose. "So, what, I just… wait in the hallway or what ?"
Jesse laughed. "Hell nah. Let me call Zephyr. I think he still got a spare key to my room".
"Zephyr?". The name was unfamiliar.
"Yeah, my neighbor and good friend. He's a good guy. If he's home, he'll surely let you in."
Celeste sighed. "Thank goodness."
"You certainly should be thanking goodness". Jesse teased. "Otherwise, you'd be stuck booking a hotel."
She rolled her eyes, though he couldn't see it. "Yeah, yeah. Just call him, will you?".
"On it. Hang tight."
The call ended just as the elevator doors slid open and she stepped out, dragging her suitcase behind her.
The hallway was wide and well-lit, doors spaced evenly apart and room 86 was still at the far end.
She groaned as she dragged her oversized suitcase down the eighth-floor hallway, her arms trembling from exhaustion.
The wheels bumped unevenly against the plush carpet and she had to stop every few steps to adjust her grip. Her back ached and her legs burned and her head throbbed from the six-hour drive.
"Just one more door. Just get to Jesse's apartment, and then you can collapse". She willed herself, forcing herself to keep going.
Her grip tightened on the suitcase handle, her knuckles whitening with the effort. She wouldn't drop it now, not when she was so close.
She gritted her teeth and forced herself forward, her fingers tightening around the suitcase handle.
She was so focused on reaching Jesse's place that she didn't notice the door to her left , right next to Jesse's apartment swinging open until it nearly smacked her in the face.
"Whoa!"
Celeste jerked back instinctively, her heel catching on the edge of her suitcase. Her arms flailed and for a terrifying second, she was certain she was about to crash onto the floor in the most humiliating way possible.
But instead of meeting the hard carpet, she was caught.