Jason took a step forward, his gaze locked on mine. His voice trembled slightly, betraying the raw emotion beneath the surface. "Janica… are you okay? I—" He stopped himself, his eyes searching mine as if trying to confirm I was truly here. "I thought I'd lost you."
My pulse pounded in my ears. The sound of my name—my real name—in his mouth was a razor slicing through the haze. Sharp. Real. Irrevocable.
The officers reacted immediately.
"Sir, we need you to step back," one of them said, raising a hand between us. "If you know this woman, you'll need to explain—outside."
Jason barely looked at him. "I'm not leaving her."
The woman beside him moved then. Calm. Steady. She reached into her coat, flashing a badge.
"Detective Denise Kihara. Nairobi CID."
That name hit me harder than the badge.
Detective. CID.
She was real.
She was here for me.
She gave Jason a slight nod, a silent command. He hesitated, then reluctantly stepped back. His eyes never left mine.
"I've been searching for her for months," Denise said, addressing the officers. "We have reason to believe she's the missing person linked to a larger trafficking investigation. I need the room cleared."
The officers exchanged a glance, hesitant.
"She's just beginning to talk," one protested.
"I said cleared," Denise repeated. "Ten minutes. That's all I need."
The room emptied reluctantly. Eli gave my hand one last squeeze before following them out. Jason lingered for a second longer, his jaw clenched, as if letting go of my gaze physically pained him.
Then it was just Denise and me.
She pulled the chair closer, her eyes gentler now. "Janica, I know it's been hell. But you're safe. I promise."
I longed to believe her words, to let them wrap around me like a lifeline—but fear still gripped me like a second skin.
My voice came out thin and cracked. "How did you find me?"
Her expression tightened—not unkindly. "Jason never stopped looking. When word came in that a woman had been found near Ngong Forest, he was already on the road before my team confirmed the ID."
My breath hitched. He never stopped looking.
Denise leaned forward, her voice gentler now. "I'm not here to rush you. Just to ask you one question."
I met her eyes.
The room was thick with silence, the kind that settles in when truth has been spoken aloud—raw and echoing.
Denise didn't press. She just sat with me in that stillness, her presence like a held breath beside mine.
Then, a soft knock.
The door creaked open, and Jason stepped back in, flanked by Eli and one of the officers. Their expressions were composed but serious.
Denise stood slowly. "Everything alright?"
The officer gave a slight nod. "We've spoken to Jason outside. He's brought us up to speed. Also, word is starting to spread—media's caught wind, and a few questions are already circulating online."
Jason's eyes found mine. "It's only a matter of time before it escalates."
Denise's jaw tightened. "Then we move now. Quietly."
The officer nodded. "We can assign protective custody, but the hospital isn't secure anymore."
Eli was already by my side, carefully easing the IV from my hand as a nurse entered with a discharge file. Everything felt too fast, yet somehow too late.
Jason's eyes locked onto mine with such intensity that it almost felt like he could will me to be alright. "Janica," he said softly, "I can take you. I've arranged everything. It's safe."
Denise's gaze swept over him, clearly measuring him. "Your arrangements are secondary right now, Mr. Jason," she said, her tone firm but professional. "We're moving her under protective custody. Thisp needs to be handled by the police."
Jason didn't back down, stepping closer, his frustration palpable. "You don't understand. She's been through hell. I'm not leaving her."
The officers shifted uneasily, sensing the rising tension. One of them, a tall man with a squared jaw, stepped forward. "Sir, we appreciate your concern, but we're in charge here. We've already cleared a safe house for her. It's our responsibility to ensure her protection."
Eli, who had been silently observing the exchange, finally spoke up, his voice calm and steady. "I'll be with her," he said. "I've been with Janica from the beginning. I'm not letting her out of my sight."
Denise looked at Eli, sizing him up. "And who are you, exactly?"
Eli didn't hesitate. "I'm the one who found her in the forest and brought her here. I've been her only support since."
She nodded slowly, her expression unreadable as she turned to the officer. "Eli stays with her. He's already proven he's committed to her safety."
The officer, though reluctant, gave a short nod. "Fine. But only as long as he stays under our supervision."
Jason's frustration was visible now. "So, I'm supposed to just let you take her? Without me?"
Denise's gaze was firm, but not unkind. "Mr. Jason, this isn't about what you want. It's about Janica's safety. And that means following procedure."
Jason clenched his fists, but he took a deep breath, his gaze never leaving mine. He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a softer, almost pleading tone. "I can't let her go without me. I... I need to be there. She needs me."
The rawness in his voice made my heart ache. I wanted to believe him. I wanted to lean on him. But something in me—something deep and protective—knew I couldn't fully trust him right now, not with everything that had happened. Not until everything was settled.
"I'll go with you, Denise," I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside. "I trust you. I need to be safe right now."
Denise gave me a small nod, a sense of reassurance in her eyes. "You're doing the right thing, Janica."
Jason looked like he wanted to say more, but he held himself back, his jaw tight. He turned to the officers, making sure the plan was in motion. "Fine," he said through clenched teeth. "But I'm coming with her. You can't stop that."
Eli gave me a reassuring smile, stepping closer. He placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. "You're not alone, Janica," he said softly. "I'll be with you every step of the way."
Denise turned to the officer, giving the final command. "We're moving her now. Clear the way."
As we prepared to leave, Jason's voice stopped me again. "Janica, I'll wait. However long it takes," he said quietly, his eyes filled with a mixture of longing and determination.
I met his gaze, my heart torn. I knew he cared. I knew he'd been searching for me. But right now, I needed more than promises. I needed to be safe, and I needed to heal.
"I'll be okay," I whispered, though doubt clouded my mind.
I couldn't let him too close—not yet. Not after everything. The truth was, I needed time to trust again, and Jason, despite how much he wanted to be there, still carried too much of the past with him. I wasn't sure I was ready to face that with him by my side.
Jason's eyes softened, but he didn't press further. He nodded, his posture still tense, as Eli and I walked toward the door.