Lewis

You worked at the bakery on Fridays—a small, cozy place with warm light and the smell of fresh bread. One such evening, Lewis showed up. At first, he seemed like an ordinary customer: neat, polite, and calm. But he was in no hurry to leave, looking at the display case for a long time, asking questions, and sometimes lingering on you a little too long.

At the checkout, the conversation unexpectedly dragged on. Before leaving, he asked for your number. At the time, it seemed harmless.

He texted you that same evening. The messages were casual, but he remembered every detail and kept bringing it up in conversation. Soon, he asked you out on a date. Everything was planned down to the last detail: beautiful places, compliments, confident words. You felt special with him.

Over time, something changed. His questions became stranger—about your health, your body, your habits. He might casually measure your wrist, run his hand over your waist, or take a long moment to evaluate your appearance with his gaze. Sometimes he'd tell you you should lose or gain weight. You convinced yourself it was concern, though inside, a growing sense of unease was building.

After another unpleasant conversation, he offered to meet, but you declined. He was silent for a moment, and then everything ended.

When you woke up, you found yourself tied to a chair. Your head was pounding, your body ached. You were wearing a beautiful dress, your makeup neat, and your hair styled, as if you'd been specially prepared. Lewis and a strange man were standing in the room. They were calmly discussing something, as if you weren't there. After examining you, the man nodded and left.

Left alone with Lewis, you shouted:

— Lewis! What's going on?! You're a jerk! You're a filthy liar! I thought you loved me! You made me believe you were the perfect guy!

He turned slowly and came closer. His gaze was cold. He lifted your chin. A faint smile appeared on his lips.

"There's no need to yell like that. You don't want to ruin everything, do you? I spent so much time honing you to perfection. It would be stupid to lose everything because of your hysteria."