Midnight's fragment

chapter 3: Silent Resolutions

"In the silence between us, i find everything I've been searching for. Yet I didn't know that you were the secret I was looking for", Jere says in a calm voice, his words cutting through the quiet like a blade softened by silk.

Seraphina paused, her eyes lingering on the page as though the ink itself whispered to her. It was just one of many novels she owned by the same enigmatic author, each brimming with lines that seemed to echo emotions she could never quite articulate.

Closing the book gently, Seraphina leaned back in her chair and let out a soft sigh. The author, who had remained nameless despite creating a series of record-breaking novels, fascinated her. Their writing carried an emotional depth that felt intensely personal, as though they understood every hidden part of her. She had read their entire collection, devouring each story with an eagerness that left her raw and contemplative.

Tonight, though, the words stirred something deeper. Perhaps it was because she knew she was on the brink of change. Her official duty at Zurich's St.Hawthone Psychiatric Hospital began on Monday, and the weight of what lay ahead settled heavy on her chest.
 
With a deep breath, she placed the book on the coffee table and shut her eyes, allowing herself to drift into sleep, the words still lingering in her thoughts.

The next morning, Seraphina stood at her kitchen counter, sipping her coffee. Her mind, however, was already far away from the peaceful moment. She had made up her mind. She thought that the daily commute between Geneva and Zurich would be exhausting for her.

She had considered her options, and after weighing everything, she made the decision. Zurich would be her home base now.

By noon, Seraphina had finalized the details of her rental agreement, signing the lease for a modest but cozy apartment in Zurich, not too far from the hospital. It felt like the right step—necessary, even. The apartment was small but comfortable, with large windows that let in natural light, and it was located in a quieter part of the city, away from the hustle. It would be the perfect place to retreat to after the long, taxing days at work.

Seraphina took a moment to breathe, allowing the satisfaction of completing the deal to settle in. The move was going to be hectic, but it would be worth it. With the apartment secured, she quickly arranged for a tempo to transport her belongings from her old place to Zurich.

Hours later, she stood by the entrance of her current apartment, watching as movers carefully loaded her things into the tempo. Her eyes were distant.

The tempo rumbled down the street, carrying her possessions with it. As she made her way to Zurich, the weight of the day began to settle around her shoulders. But for now, she allowed herself a moment of peace. The real work would start on Monday, and she needed to be ready.

Arriving at the new apartment, Seraphina immediately started unpacking. Each box she opened felt like a step closer to her new life in Zurich. She arranged her books, set up her desk by the window, and hung a few pictures on the walls. By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, she felt a sense of calm settling over her.

The first day of her new role would be here before she knew it, and as the hours slipped away, Seraphina couldn’t shake the feeling that her life was about to change in ways she couldn’t predict. She had no idea what lay ahead—no idea that a dark, twisted connection was silently forming between her and the man she was trying so hard to help.

But for tonight, she simply allowed herself the quiet of the apartment, the serenity of starting fresh, and the subtle pull of an unknown future.

Monday morning arrived with a crisp chill in the Zurich air. Seraphina stood at the entrance of St.hawthorne mental asylum, a towering building that exuded both authority and quiet solemnity. The early rays of the sun caught on its glass façade, making the structure seem almost alive.