WARNING: This story contains graphic content and triggers. Viewer discretion advised.

He greeted me with a sweet kiss before heading to the bathroom. Just then, my phone started ringing from another room, and I rushed over to check it, half-expecting it to be Mia calling off our plans. But instead, all I saw was “No Caller ID” flashing on the screen.

I set my phone aside and let it ring- seventeen times- before finally picking up. “Hello?” All I could hear was this heavy breathing on the other end. Then a voice broke through, “Break up with your boyfriend.” My heart raced as my eyes widened in disbelief. “Excuse me?” I shot back, my mind swirling with questions like ‘Who is this?’ and ‘Why do I need to break up with Brendan?’

Without thinking too much, I blurted out, “Who is this?” More heavy breathing filled the silence until a deep, distorted voice delivered eight words that would stick with me forever: “Hello Seo, this is the Hotline to Heaven.”

...

As we reach the bar area in the basement, my mind drifts back to that night when we had a few too many drinks and ended up with hickeys all over us. But this time is different- before I know it, he grabs a bottle and smashes it against my head.
I stagger back, feeling warmth trickle down from my scalp. Instinct kicks in, and I grab a shard of glass from the broken bottle. With all the strength I can muster, I hurl it at him while shouting, “Stay the hell away from me!” Clenching my eyes shut, I silently wish this was just some nightmare. Part of me braces for him to come after me again, but instead there’s nothing but eerie silence enveloping me.

When I finally open my eyes, Brendan is nowhere to be seen. Cautiously creeping behind the counter, I glance down to find him gasping for air, the piece of glass embedded in his neck. Panic floods through me. “Shit,” I say, “I just killed my boyfriend.”