The relentless pursuit had left me weary, a constant shadow dogging my heels. My car, a faithful old beast, rumbled down the highway, its engine a low thrum against the rising tide of my anxiety. Another job lost, another town abandoned. Eli’s ghost, or rather, his very real, infuriating presence, continued to haunt my every attempt at a normal life. Even across the phone line, his voice had the power to ignite a familiar spark of helpless rage. "Come home, Leah," he'd purred, a heartbreaking sound I knew was nothing more than a manipulative lie.

My fingers, trembling with lingering fury, slammed the phone back onto its cradle, the sound a sharp punctuation mark to the end of another chapter. I stormed out of the diner, leaving behind the pitying glances of my former boss, the greasy smell of fried food, and the faint echo of my own shouted defiance. The world blurred past my car window, a nondescript landscape of trees and open road. Each mile was a small victory, a tiny act of rebellion against the fate Eli seemed determined to impose upon me.

Hours later, hunger gnawed at my stomach, a persistent reminder of my human needs. A flickering neon sign in the distance promised a roadside diner, and I pulled in, the crunch of gravel under my tires a welcome sound. Inside, the air hung heavy with the scent of cooked meat and stale coffee. I slipped into a corner booth, seeking the anonymity of the shadows, trying to make myself invisible. Just a quick meal, then back on the road. The plan was simple, foolproof. Until a brick wall, a very solid, very handsome brick wall, materialized out of nowhere, stopping me dead in my tracks.