"I will talk to you later, Dad," said Mia as she waved at her father and ended the call. As the screen went black, the sense of safety that Mia had gotten from the presence of her father also disappeared.
The lights in her room were still on, but she could feel the darkness creeping from all over the corners. Mia felt suffocated and had to repeat the breathing exercise a few more times before she could calm her thumping heartbeat.
The knock on the door resounded again, and Mia sighed. She got to her feet and then walked to the door before pulling it open. Her gaze met with Lucas, who was holding a pillow in one of his hands and a blanket in the other.
"Mister Lucas… what do you think you are doing?" she asked when she saw the man all dressed up and ready for bed and holding the pillow and blanket in his hands. Just what was he doing standing in front of her room when he should be asleep?
