Social media has a way of weaving itself into your life and your relationships, often without you even realizing it. Most of the time, it’s harmless—just cute pictures and updates for friends and family. But occasionally, it can take an unexpected and chilling turn.
Mark and I had been dating for almost a year. He was the ideal boyfriend—sweet, funny, and thoughtful. Whether we were hiking or just relaxing at home on a lazy Sunday, he always knew how to make me smile. I felt incredibly lucky to have him, so I decided it was time to take the next step: making our relationship official on Facebook.
We were out hiking one afternoon when we snapped a cute picture together—us grinning with the sun behind us. I posted it with the caption, “Just me and my favorite person on our latest adventure!” I added a couple of heart emojis and hit share, happy to share a little piece of our joy with the world.
But just ten minutes later, a notification made my stomach drop. It wasn’t a like or a comment. It was a message: “YOU MUST RUN FROM HIM. NOW.”
I stared at my phone, my heart racing. Who would send something like that? I clicked on the profile, but it was a blank page—no info, no photos, nothing. It was as if a ghost had sent the message. I glanced over at Mark, who was happily loading our backpacks into the car, unaware of the storm building inside me. Should I tell him?
Before I could process what was happening, another message arrived: “Don’t tell Mark anything. Smile, stay calm, and don’t provoke him. You have no idea what he’s capable of. Got it?”
I felt the blood drain from my face. What was going on? Who was sending these messages? And why were they so convinced I was in danger?
Mark waved at me with his usual warm smile, completely oblivious to my growing panic. He didn’t look dangerous—he looked like the man I loved. But the messages were so unsettling, I decided to play along, at least for now.
Forcing a smile, I walked over to him, my voice steady. “Ready to head home?”
He gave me a curious look. “Everything okay?”
I swallowed hard. “Yeah, just my mom texting. I’ll deal with it later.”
That night, I couldn’t shake the messages. They played over and over in my mind, making me question everything. Mark had always been so loving, so kind. But what if there was something I didn’t know? What if there was a darker side to him?
Over the next few days, things started to feel off. I’d catch him staring at me for no reason, just watching me. It made me uneasy. One night, I was reading on the couch, and when I glanced up, there he was—his eyes locked on me. When I asked if something was wrong, he shrugged it off. But the unease only grew.
Then, one morning, another message popped up from the anonymous profile: “Meet me at Bayou Bakery tomorrow at 2 p.m. I’ll give you the evidence. Don’t tell Mark.”
My hands shook as I read it. Evidence? Evidence of what? I needed to know the truth, but how could I lie to Mark? What if he was already suspicious? What if he knew something was wrong?
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