My heart pounding
Sadie's pov
Just as I was about to step out, a strange urge made me pause. Something inside me wanted a picture of that old photo in my mom’s room. I didn’t know why, but I quickly went back and snapped a photo of it with my phone. The whole thing felt odd; what was so special about it? I didn't even know why I cared. But when I checked the time, my heart sank. It was already almost 7 p.m.
“Great,” I muttered to myself, feeling panic rise. I had planned to meet him precisely at 7 p.m., and it would take me a good thirty minutes to reach the hotel from here. Without another second to waste, I dashed out of my mom’s room and hurried to lock up the front door, my heart pounding as I did so. I didn't care if my makeup got a little messy; all I wanted was to get there on time.
As soon as I stepped outside, I waved down a taxi, and the driver slowed to a stop. I barely waited for him to roll down his window before I jumped in, blurting out, “Just go, please! It’s the Royal King Hotel.”
The driver raised an eyebrow, already shifting into gear, and asked, “You mean King’s Royal Hotel?”
“Yes, that’s it!” I replied, flustered. “Sorry, I’m in a hurry. Could you go a little faster, please?”
He nodded and increased his speed, probably noticing how desperate I was. My eyes locked onto my wristwatch, watching the minutes tick by. How had time sped up so suddenly? I was already blaming myself. That photo in my mom’s room had been there for ages. Why did I choose that exact moment to notice it? I could’ve gone back later or even tomorrow, but instead, I had wasted valuable time on something that could’ve waited.
As the taxi sped down the road, my mind kept going over the “what ifs.” I wondered if my mom had sensed my urgency when I called her earlier. I could have asked her about the picture in person tomorrow. The weight of my own choices started to feel heavier with each passing second.
The drive felt endless. Every red light and slow car added to my frustration. Finally, the taxi pulled up to the hotel. I quickly thrust some cash at the driver, not bothering to wait for change. I was out of the car and walking toward the entrance in seconds, though the driver called out, trying to hand me back my change.
“Keep it!” I waved my hand without looking back, practically jogging inside. I approached the receptionists like I had the first time, hoping they’d help me get to the office quickly. They directed me to the dating app’s office, where I knocked lightly, hoping someone was still there.
Inside, a man looked up as I entered, and his eyes took in my disheveled appearance. He gave me a questioning look but proceeded to check my details in the system. After a moment, he frowned slightly and said, “Your meeting time was 7 p.m., right? It’s almost 7:30.”
My heart sank, but I forced myself to remain calm. “Please,” I said quietly, “can you check if he’s still here?”
He regarded me with a look that was hard to read. After a moment, he nodded, saying, “I’ll see what I can do.”
He left the room, leaving me to wait in anxious silence. I sat down, tapping my fingers against my knee as my nerves got the best of me. This meeting was everything to me. After waiting so long, I couldn't believe I might lose it over something as trivial as a detour to take a picture.
Finally, the man returned. His face was blank as he said, “I’m sorry. The gentleman has left.”
My heart felt like it had dropped to my stomach. “Left?” I stood, trying not to sound as desperate as I felt. “Is there any way to contact him? I need to talk to him, please.”
He paused, studying me, then sighed. “All I can do is try to reach him by phone, but I can’t guarantee anything.”
“Please, let me talk to him,” I said, my voice almost breaking.
He shook his head. “I won’t be the one calling him. I’ll just send a message. You’ll need to wait and see if he responds.”
He typed something quickly on his laptop, then looked back at me. “All we can do now is wait. I’ll show you to a room where you can wait for his response.”
I nodded, feeling a small glimmer of hope. He guided me to another office, where a woman waited to take me to a private room. As she led me down the hall, she asked, “Have you been here before?”
“Yes,” I replied, barely registering the question. My mind was on him. Would he come back? Or had I already lost my chance?
The woman opened the door to a quiet, dark room, and gestured for me to enter. I stepped inside, a mixture of hope and fear churning in my stomach. The last time I was here, he had already been waiting for me in the room. With a small flicker of optimism, I scanned the space, hoping he might somehow be there again. But the room was empty.
I sat down and waited, every second feeling like an eternity. Regret gnawed at me, the image of the old photo in my mind. Why had I let that distract me? He had been here, ready to meet me, and I had missed my chance because of my own foolishness.
Twenty minutes passed in silence. My hope began to fade, and I finally stood, resigned to my own mistakes. Maybe he was gone for good. Maybe this was my punishment for letting my attention slip. I took a deep breath, preparing to leave.
But just as I turned toward the door, I heard a knock. My heart raced, pounding louder than ever as I froze.
“Please, can I come inside?” a voice asked from the other side of the door.
My pulse raced with a mix of hope and fear. Could it be him? Was he actually here, despite everything? I took a shaky breath, steadying myself, and walked slowly to the door, every step filled with anticipation.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
