Miss Josefina: Nobody's Princess

The lights in the office flickered out abruptly, leaving Josefina stumbling into the comforting embrace of warmth.

Oliver held her close, his voice a soothing whisper in her ear, "Don't be scared."

The dark had long been a source of terror for Josefina, a fear rooted in childhood nights spent locked in pitch-dark rooms. From those days on, she couldn't bear to be in the dark without light.

It was a scorcher of a summer, and with the air conditioner humming in the background, the office curtains were drawn, shielding the interior from the faint glow of streetlamps and leaving the room in an eerie darkness.

Josefina's grip tightened on Oliver's arm, her panic palpable to him, tinged with an undeniable dread.

"Hold on, I'll pull back the curtains. Once there's light, it'll all be fine," Oliver reassured her as he held her close.

Gritting her teeth, Josefina fought to quell the fear clawing at her insides, inching her way to the window with Oliver's guidance.

outside light

looked up, bathed in the soft glow of streetlights, and caught sight of Oliver's resolute jawline. Their eyes met as she looked up and he

door. Let's head back," Oliver suggested, worried that Josefina might unravel completely. He took

door's locked." Oliver frowned as he realized that there was a problem with the door

frowned at him, her silence speaking volumes

I'd stoop so low as to trap us together? I'm

from outside, she hastily packed her belongings into her bag. "Oliver, step back," she

her

foot slammed against the

the door down and taking her hand once more, guiding her toward the main entrance

door was also locked, and there was a smell of gasoline in the air. Oliver knew they had to get out fast. "I'll get you out

of my hand first.

the side, Josefina slipped a bobby pin from her hair