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.

the outside light spilled in, lessening the grip of Josefina's

glow of streetlights, and caught sight of Oliver's resolute jawline.

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

frowned as he realized that there was a problem with the door lock. He pulled out his phone and sighed. "We've

silence speaking volumes

really think I'd stoop so low as to trap us together? I'm no saint,

dim light from outside, she hastily packed her belongings

Oliver said, taking her arm. "A gentleman

back as Oliver's foot slammed against the door with a

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

air. Oliver knew they had to get out fast. "I'll get

go of my hand first.

Shattered glass could hurt someone. Standing to the side, Josefina slipped a bobby pin