When Love is a Question Mark
Chapter 26: Where is Zinnia?

Chapter 26: Where is Zinnia?

Samuel stood outside Zinnia’s parents’ house, his heart pounding as Elena opened the door. Her eyes widened in surprise, immediately filling with concern.

"Samuel? What’s wrong?" she asked.

"Mom, have you seen Zinnia?" His voice was tense as he struggled to stay calm. "She sent me a message saying she’d be waiting for me at home, but she wasn’t there when I got back."

Elena’s expression shifted from concern to confusion, then worry. "No, I haven’t seen her since this morning. I thought she was with you."

Samuel’s heart sank. He had been so sure Zinnia was at home, waiting for him. Now, with no clue where she could be, a cold wave of fear washed over him. "Sorry to bother you, Mom. I’ll keep looking."

Elena nodded, her face clouded with worry. "Let me know if you find her. I’m sure she’s alright."

Samuel forced a tight smile. "I will. Thanks."

He turned back to his car, trying to control the growing panic. The message Zinnia had sent kept replaying in his mind. I’ll wait for you at home. But she wasn’t there. Why would she leave? Where could she have gone?

He drove back to their house, his mind racing with possibilities. As soon as he parked, he rushed inside, checking every room again, hoping she had returned while he was out. But the house was still empty, eerily silent.

Standing in the middle of the living room, he ran his hands through his hair in frustration. Why isn’t she here? Desperately, he tried calling her again. The phone rang and rang, but no one answered. His heart sank deeper with every second of silence.

"Zinnia, please pick up," he whispered, almost pleading into the phone. "I need to talk to you."

Still, no answer.

He slumped onto the couch, feeling utterly defeated. Tonight was supposed to be the night he told her everything—how much he loved her, how sorry he was for everything. He had wanted to make things right, to show her he cared. But now, with her gone and unreachable, it all felt like it was slipping away.

He glanced down at his phone, hoping for a message, a sign she was okay. The empty house seemed to close in on him, amplifying his worst fears. Why isn’t she here? His mind was filled with questions. Did something happen? Is she avoiding me?

Then, a memory surfaced—Zinnia, after their engagement party. She had asked for his phone while he parked outside her parents’ house to drop her off. Her tone had been calm, her smile soft.

"Samuel, can I borrow your phone for a second?" she had asked.

He had raised an eyebrow, curious but not worried. "Sure, why?"

She had taken his phone, tapping on it. "I’m installing something."

"What kind of app?"

"It’s a tracker," Zinnia had explained softly. "In case something happens to one of us, you’ll be able to see where I am, and I’ll know where you are. I never want you to disappear on me... And if anything happens to me, I want you to find me."

Samuel hadn’t been upset by the idea of a tracker. Instead, he felt warmth in that moment. Zinnia wanted to protect him, to make sure they were always connected. For the first time in his life, he felt truly valued. She wasn’t just protecting herself—she was looking out for both of them.

Why didn’t I think of that sooner? He realized, snapping back to the present. Quickly, he opened the app Zinnia had installed years ago. His heart raced as he saw the small dot representing her location. It was moving.

Is she driving? But something felt wrong. Zinnia wasn’t answering her phone, and the way the dot moved didn’t sit well with him. His gut told him something was off.

His heart raced. Why isn’t she picking up?

He dialed her number again, his hands trembling slightly. The phone rang and rang, but no one picked it up.

"Zinnia, I hope you’re okay," he thought, his mind racing with fear. What if something bad happened? What if she’s in danger? The thoughts gnawed at him, filling him with dread.

He couldn’t just sit and wait. Samuel grabbed his keys and rushed out the door, determined to find her. He jumped into his car, starting the engine with urgency. As he sped down the road, the knot of fear in his stomach tightened. He checked the app again, seeing Zinnia’s location still moving. Where is she going? The dot kept shifting, leading him toward the outskirts of the city.

The drive felt endless, even though he was speeding. His thoughts were a blur of worry. The dot moved again, taking a different direction. Samuel cursed under his breath, struggling to keep up.

Why does it keep changing? His grip tightened on the wheel as he followed the route, feeling like he was chasing shadows.

The streets blurred as he navigated through the city, his heart pounding faster with each passing moment. Every second that passed felt like it was pushing her further out of his reach.

"Come on, Zinnia," he whispered, glancing at the phone. The location kept changing, and the dread in his chest grew heavier. Why isn’t she answering?

His mind raced back to the past few days. He had been so focused on work—on everything but her. Not including Mr. Sunshine, he had let the distance between them grow, and now, when he was finally ready to make things right, she was slipping away.

Samuel’s chest tightened as he sped through the empty streets, pushing back the fear that something had gone terribly wrong. He kept following the changing location, frustration mounting with every turn. The tracker moved faster now, harder to keep up with. Samuel’s heart sank as he realized he was falling behind.

Finally, he reached a stretch of road leading out of the city. The location was moving slower, almost as if it had stopped. His heart pounded in his chest, the fear nearly overwhelming. Is she okay?

He pulled over to the side of the road, checking the tracker again. The dot had stopped moving. He stared at the screen, trying to make sense of it. She’s not driving anymore.

But something still felt off. His hands trembled as he dialed her number one last time, praying for an answer.

"Zinnia, please," he whispered, holding his breath as the phone rang.