30 Valeria

30

Valeria

“And please check the packaging for any leaks. Yes, I want you to go the factory and check them personally—”

Someone knocked on the door, I pulled the phone from my ear and said, “Give me five minutes, please.”

I continued talking to the employee until he understood what he had to check after visiting the factory and the chemical lab.

“Come in.”

I read the paper in front of me, my fingers tracing over the Braille. The person who had entered wasn’t light on their feet like my assistant. The feet felt heavy but soft. There was a change in air as someone deposited something on my desk, looming close to me.

Before I could ask them who were they, I heard him.

“Hello, my sweet one,” Khalid greeted me, standing in my office. In London. In front of me.

I stood up, ready to hug him but held back, remembering the times he had made me scared and worried about him for the past month. Ignoring me as if I didn’t exist.

I cleared my throat. “Hello, Khalid. What are you doing here?”