Chapter 4 - The Girl Who Disappeared

The first time Sebastian realized something was wrong, Alessia stopped answering his calls. At first, he thought she was just busy. But by the third day, even Sebastian’s patience began unraveling into fear.

Rain poured endlessly over the city that week. The university campus looked gray and empty beneath the storm, students rushing through pathways with umbrellas clutched tightly above their heads. Sebastian walked quickly across the courtyard, phone pressed against his ear while the ringing echoed for what felt like the hundredth time.

No answer. His jaw tightened. “Pick up,” he muttered quietly. But no one answered until the call ended. Sebastian immediately dialed again. Still nothing. A strange feeling settled heavily in his chest. Because Alessia always answered him. Even if they argued. Even if she was angry. Even if she only wanted to yell at him for calling too much. She always answered.

By evening, Sebastian was standing outside her apartment building. The rain soaked through his coat almost instantly, cold water dripping from his dark hair as he stared up at the familiar balcony on the third floor. There's no light over at the frankenstien place.

He climbed the stairs two at a time. Then knocked once, until it was twice. “Love? It's me." But silence answered him. Sebastian’s breathing grew uneven. “Love, open the door.”

An elderly woman from the neighboring apartment peeked outside carefully. “Are you looking for the girl staying there?” Sebastian turned immediately. “Yes. Where is she?”

“She moved out yesterday morning.” The world suddenly went quiet. “What?” The woman frowned slightly. “A taxi came early. She left with only a few boxes.” Sebastian stared at her blankly. “No,” he said instantly. “That’s impossible.”

“She did.” His chest tightened painfully. “She didn’t tell me.” The woman’s expression softened with pity. “She looked like she’d been crying.” Sebastian felt something crack apart inside him. He barely remembered leaving the building afterward. His hands shook while dialing her number again, and again, but nothing happened.

By midnight, he was driving through the city like someone losing his mind. He saw the café she liked. The bookstore near campus where they first met. The riverside bridge where she dragged him once at two in the morning because she “wanted to hear the water.”

Sebastian searched everywhere. But Alessia was gone. Like she had vanished from the world overnight. The following days became unbearable. Sebastian stopped attending classes. Stopped sleeping properly. Even his friends began avoiding him because grief made him cruel without meaning to. He looked exhausted constantly.

Then one evening, he finally went home. And found his mother waiting for him inside her office. Mrs. Vaughn sat elegantly on the sofa, a cup of untouched tea resting beside her. She looked composed as always, dressed in expensive silk while the room smelled faintly of roses and cold indifference.

Sebastian stood at the doorway silently. “You knew.” It wasn’t a question. His mother sighed softly. “Sebastian—”

“You knew she was leaving.”

“She made the decision herself.”

Rage flashed across his face instantly. “What did you say to her?” Mrs. Vaughn remained calm. “The truth.” Sebastian laughed bitterly. “The truth?”

“She was never suitable for you.” The words landed like a slap.

“She loved me.”

“And love doesn’t build stable futures.” Sebastian’s breathing turned sharp. “You think I care about status?”

“You will when your life begins falling apart because of someone emotionally unstable.” His eyes darkened immediately. “Don’t talk about her like that.” Mrs. Vaughn rose slowly from her seat. “That girl would have made you abandon everything for her.”

“Yes.” The answer came instantly. Without hesitation. His mother looked genuinely startled. Sebastian’s eyes burned with something raw and broken.

“I would’ve chosen her over everything.” Silence filled the room. Mrs. Vaughn stared at her son quietly before speaking again. “She knew that too.” Something inside Sebastian froze. And suddenly, he understood.

Alessia didn’t leave because she stopped loving him. She left because she believed loving him would destroy him. Sebastian lowered his gaze slowly, pain twisting violently inside his chest. He knew Alessia too well. Too independent. Too afraid of becoming someone that needed saving.

And his mother... His mother had found every insecurity Alessia carried and carved deeper wounds into them.. “She cried when she spoke to me,” Mrs. Vaughn admitted quietly. “But she still left.” Sebastian’s hands clenched into fists. Because he could picture it perfectly. Alessia standing there pretending to be strong while her heart shattered quietly inside her chest. Just like always.

“She asked me for one favor before leaving.” Sebastian looked up sharply. Mrs. Vaughn's expression softened slightly. “She told me not to tell you where she went.” The room suddenly felt suffocating.

Sebastian turned away immediately, one hand covering his mouth as emotion crashed into him too violently to hide anymore. For the first time in years... Mrs. Vaughn saw her son cry.

“She promised me forever... Mom... Tell me where she is please. I don't know what to do without her, how am I supposed to know if she already ate? She's so picky when it comes to food...” Sebastian whispered hoarsely.

His mother said nothing. Because sometimes the cruelest thing about love… Was that people could mean every word they said and still leave anyway.

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