Mary was half way through signing discharge form when her phone vibrated.
She glance down, expecting an update from the doctor or a message from the pharmacy.
Instead she saw a name she hadn't allowed herself to think about in years.
She stared at it for a long moment.
Then she turn her phone face down.
Some ghost, if ignored long enough, stayed buried.
Others learned patience.
Her daughter slept peacefullyin the hospital bed, color slowly returning to her cheeks after days of treatment. Mary adjusted the blanket gently, her movement careful, protective. This_ this _ was the life she had chosen. Quiet. Fragile. Real.
The phone vibrated again.
Mary sighed pick it up.
A message appeared.
I know that you don't like surprises
But I also know you won't ignore this forever.
Her throat tightened.
She typed nothing
Another message followed.
I heard you were back
We should talk _ before someone else finds you first.
Mary closed her eyes.
There only a handful of people who could write like that. Fewer who would dare. Fewer alive.
Her thumb hovered over the keyboard.
How did you find me?
The reply came almost instantly.
You didn't cover your tracks as well as you think.
Don't worry. I cleaned up what I could.
That sent a sharp chill through her chest.
Mary look around the room_ at the quiet machines, the white walls, the soft rise and fall of her daughter's breathing. She turned away, lowering her voice as she spoke quietly to herself.
" Damn it."
She typed again.
" where are you?
This time, the response took longer.
When it came, it was precise.
Same country. Same city, actually.
There is a café near the river. You haven't forgotten it.
Mary jaw tightened.
Of course she hadn't.
The café had once been natural ground_ where conversation happened without record, where names weren't used, where secrets passed hands like spared change.
She locked her phone and slipped it into her coat pocket.
An hour later, she sat alone at a small table by the window, her back to the wall, eyes constantly moving. The café hadn't changed much. Same narrow windows. Same low music.same illusion of safety.
The door opened.
Mary didn't look up immediately.
She didn't have too.
" still sit where you can see the exit," a familiar voice said quietly.
She lifted her gaze.
He looked older. Hard around the eyes. The kind of man who had learn too much and trust too little. But the recognition was instant. Unmistakable.
" you're not supposed to exit anymore," Mary said flatly.
He smile faintly. " Neither are you."
He slid into the seat across from her, carefully, controlled.
" I heard about the accident," he continued. " Daniel."
Mary didn't react.
" That wasn't public." She said.
He shrugged. " Nothing stays private if the wrong person are watching."
Her fingers tightened around her cup. " why are you here?"
" because Helix group is active again, " he replied.
" And your name surfaced when it shouldn't have."
Mary felt the weight of that sentence settled between them.
" so it's true," she said quietly. " They're connected."
He nodded once. " They always were. Helix just changed masks."
Her thoughts flashed to Daniel, to the hospital room, to Mrs Carter's she had missed earlier. " They know about me?"
" They know someone is pulling threads." He said carefully. " I convinced them it's wasn't you. For now."
" for now," Mary echoe.
He leaned closer. " you need to stop looking. "
She met his gazed steady. " that's not advice. That's fear."
" Call it survival, he said. " you walked away once. Do it again."
Mary shook her head slowly. " Not this time."
Something unreadable close his face.
" They won't stop," he said quietly. " And if they link you to Daniel fully_"
" I know." She interrupted.
He studied her for a long moment, then reached into his coat and slid a folder paper across the table.
" Then keep this," he said. " incase you change your mind."
She didn't open it.
" Be careful Mary, " he added, standing." You're not invisible anymore."
He left without another word.
Mary sat there long after he was gone, staring at the paper.
Her phone vibrated.
This time it was Mrs Carter calling.
Mary answered.
" yes," she said softly, already knowing nothing would be the same again.