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.

flung open, the outside light spilled in, lessening the

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

might unravel completely. He took her hand, leading

as he realized that there was a problem with the door lock. He pulled

him, her silence speaking

rueful smile. "Do you really think I'd stoop so low as

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

her arm.

slammed against the door with

go," he said, pulling the door down and taking her hand once more, guiding her toward the main entrance of

to get out fast. "I'll get

of my hand first. I'll do

someone. Standing to the side, Josefina slipped a bobby pin from