It had been days since Raya disappeared, and the silence in Anna's apartment felt heavier than the air in any police station. Every corner of the space reminded her of her absence—the unwashed coffee mug in the sink, the blanket Raya had tossed carelessly across the couch, the faint trail of her perfume still clinging to the pillows. Raya's presence lingered everywhere, mocking her with the cruel reminder that she was gone.
At first, Anna told herself there had to be a reasonable explanation. Raya was spontaneous, yes, but never careless. She wouldn't vanish without saying where she was going. She wouldn't miss her shifts at work. She would never let her phone stay off for more than an hour. Raya was dependable, no matter how chaotic life became.
