Chapter 2: A Face I Can't Unsee

2

I pressed my palms to my forehead, staring at the agency’s latest message.

"Bro, if you really want her, add her and ask about her schedule. She’s super busy, haha."

The avatar stopped my heart cold.

It was the couple’s cartoon I’d drawn years ago: Hannah as a little white rabbit, me as the big gray wolf. Her nibbling my ear, me kissing her toes—our own inside joke.

I could still see her blush when she first saw it, curling into my arms.

"So I’m that pure and flawless in your eyes? Dave, you’re too good to me."

I hugged her tight, grinning like an idiot.

"Of course, Hannah. I love you. I want you to have everything."

Now, those memories felt like glass shards under my skin.

My hands shook as I sent a friend request, praying she wouldn’t answer.

Or maybe, deep down, hoping I’d wake up from this nightmare.

Then the notification pinged. My heart hammered in my ears.

"Hannah has accepted your friend request. You can now chat."

The white rabbit avatar sent a long voice message.

"Hey babe, where are you? I’m at the Monarch Hotel. You can book me tomorrow..."

A chill shot up my spine. I was at the Monarch Hotel—right now.

I typed back, barely able to keep my fingers steady:

"I’m also at the Monarch. Where exactly are you?"

I clung to denial. Maybe she’d explain. Maybe there was some mistake. I couldn’t imagine Hannah betraying me, selling herself to strangers. I refused to let go of that hope.

Just then, my DoorDash order came through.

I hadn’t eaten all day, and after this, I felt hollowed out.

I forced myself down to the lobby, clutching my phone, waiting for a reply that never came.

When I came back up, takeout in hand—the paper bag still warm, a Target bag poking out from the pile of hotel flyers—I looked up and felt my stomach drop.

My hands trembled as I watched the figure ahead. Sometimes, you see someone so familiar it’s like your heart stops. Every move was burned into my memory, and all I could do was watch, wishing I was wrong.