Why am I scared?
I didn’t do anything.
I kept repeating it in my head as I walked into the Communications Department.
But the moment I stepped in…
Everyone was staring at me.
Silence.
The kind of silence that already has a conclusion.
My chest tightened.
“What… what happened?” I asked.
Anna didn’t speak.
She just turned her phone and showed me the screen.
My heart dropped.
The blogger had posted again.
And this time…
It wasn’t speculation.
It wasn’t “anonymous source.”
It was my full government name.
Ah.
No.
No, no, no.
I looked at Anna quickly, ready to explain. 
But the look on her face stopped me.
She believed it.
“I’m very surprised about this situation,” she said slowly.
“And even more surprised that the police got here this fast.”
Me too, ma.
Because what is going on?? 😭
My chest started hurting.
Then I heard it.
“You are under arrest for suspected involvement in financial fraud and money laundering. Anything you say may be used against you in a court of law.”
The police.
Standing right behind me.
I laughed.
Actually laughed.
Because this had to be a joke.
“Jokes on you,” I said.
“If you check the transaction dates, it happened before I was even employed here. You people are not serious.”
But they didn’t argue.
They just held me and led me out.
So this is it.
They needed someone to take the fall.
And somehow…
They chose me.
But they’ve failed.
Because I will be out of here in no time.
I was taken into the investigation room.
Cold. Quiet.
Too quiet.
A flash drive was placed in front of me.
“Everything inside here points to you,” the officer said.
“We also found keys to a building linked to these transactions…”
He dropped a photo on the table.
Stacks of money.
Piled up like a movie scene.
“…and this was found in your locker.”
Locker?
I blinked. I had a locker? I laughed.
Softly.
Because at this point…
What else is new?
“You’ll need to call your lawyer,” he said.
I stared at him.
Cold. Silent.
No response.
He left the room.
I sat there alone.
In the dark.
And one question kept repeating in my head. 
How did all of this get linked to me?
The door opened again.
The DPO walked in with two officers.
His tone had changed.
“We apologize. The evidence has been reviewed… it is null and void. You’re free to go.”
I froze.
That fast?
“There’s a vehicle waiting for you,” he added.
I stepped out slowly.
My heart beating louder than my footsteps.
Praying silently. 
Please… let it not be who I think it is.
I got to the entrance.
And then I saw the car.
Ah.
So it’s you.
Dad.
The one person I was praying it wouldn’t be.
I entered the car.
Of course… he wasn’t inside.
Three escort cars followed behind us.
Security.
Power.
Control.
I leaned back and started singing quietly:
“I’m coming home, I’m coming home…
Tell the neighbors I’m coming home…”
We arrived at the house.
The place I call home…
But right now?
It felt like a prison.
And honestly. 
At this point…
They can take me back to the police station.
Because this silence?
This pressure?
This house?
It’s suffocating.