Chapter 2

As the days turned into weeks, their relationship deepened. They spent every moment together, sharing secrets and confidences, their bodies pressed tight against one another in the darkness of Nathan's hospital room. She found herself thinking about him constantly, obsessing over the feel of his skin, the smell of his hair. But she also felt a growing sense of unease, a nagging fear that she was losing herself in this relationship, becoming someone she didn't recognize.

One night, as they lay entwined in his bed, Sarah finally mustered the courage to ask him about the flickers of madness she sometimes saw in his eyes. He laughed softly, running his fingers through her hair.

"Oh, Sarah," he said,

"that's just the artist in me. The obsessive need to create, to see things differently. Sometimes it consumes me, makes me feel... unhinged. But it's just a part of who I am."

She wanted to believe him, but she couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to it than that.

As Nathan's health improved, the doctors began to discuss discharging him from the hospital. Sarah found herself dreading the thought of him leaving. She knew that once he was gone, she would lose him forever. But she also knew that something wasn't right. That if she didn't find a way to break free from this twisted web they'd spun together, neither of them would ever be safe again.

On the day of Nathan's release, Sarah stood outside the hospital, watching as he was wheeled out to the waiting car. He turned to her, his eyes filled with anguish, and mouthed the words

"I love you" before being driven away.

She watched until the car disappeared from sight, feeling a mix of relief and heartbreak wash over her. As she turned to walk back inside, she knew that she had to confront the truth about their relationship. That she had to find a way to free herself from Nathan's grasp before it was too late.

Over the next few days, Sarah struggled to come to terms with what had happened between them. She found herself constantly reliving the memories, trying to make sense of the feelings she had for him. She would wake up in the middle of the night, her heart racing, certain that she could still feel his breath on her skin, his fingers tangled in her hair. She knew that she had to break things off with him, but she couldn't shake the fear that he wouldn't let her go so easily.

Finally, mustering up all the courage she could find, Sarah decided to visit Nathan at his home. She knew it was a risk, but she felt that she owed it to herself to confront him, to make sure that he understood how dangerous their relationship had become. As she walked up to the front door, she took a deep breath, steadying her nerves. She knocked, her knuckles rapping against the wood.