Chapter 1
One dark night, while I was walking in the streets at exactly one o’clock in the morning, I was heading home after working late at the office. Suddenly, I saw a shadow walking in front of me, I closed my eyes for some seconds, then opened them, but I didn’t see anything. I told myself, “It must be the exhaustion and fatigue affecting me.”
I hurried towards my apartment, number 206, trying to get there as soon as possible.
I searched my bag for the key, only to realize it was missing. I looked for it here and there, but I didn’t find it. I was startled when my apartment door suddenly opened, and a white girl appeared in front of me, wearing a short white dress, and her black hair - which reached the middle of her back - was hanging down over her shoulders. She smiled and said:
- Why didn’t you ring the bell, dear?
I wondered to myself “Dear?! Who is this girl?!!”
I asked her, while doubt controlling my heart:
- Who are you?!
She looked at me in surprise, and after seconds of silence she answered:
- What’s wrong, dear?! You must be tired from working overtime again. Come in, I’ve prepared dinner.
I had no choice but to follow her inside. Where else could I go at this late hour?
" I’ll look into her matters tomorrow. ” I told myself.
We ate together, and it felt as it was normal, to the point that I asked myself if I had forgotten about her with all the extra-time aorking, but it’s impossible to forget such beauty.
I went in to take a shower, while she washed the dishes and arranged the kitchen. I came out to find that she had finished, and was waiting on the couch. She smiled at me, a smile I wished I could hold onto forever. I lowered my head and walked towards my room:
- I’m going to sleep, I have work tomorrow.
She answered as she got up to stand infront of the room’s door, preventing me from entering:
- You can’t sleep here, you will have to sleep on the couch tonight.
She smiled gently, while curiosity was killing me:
- Why can’t I sleep in My room?!
She answered while looking into my eyes:
- Because you won’t wake up early to go to work if you did.
- What makes you so sure?!
- Because this is what always happens, my dear.
She didn’t move away from the door of the room, and I didn’t dare to push her away. Exhaustion overwhelmed me, and I gave in to her words, and slept on the couch.
I woke up the next day to the sound of the alarm ringing at exactly seven in the morning. I got up, and went into the bathroom to wash my face, and brush my teeth. I came out to find her standing infront of me, I’m not exaggerating if I say that I feel my heart stop every time she looks at me, or appears in front of me.
She smiled:
- Get dressed, I’ll prepare a light breakfast.
I entered my room to get dressed. I still had that feeling I felt yesterday when I get in to get my pajamas from the closet, as if there was someone else. It’s a scary feeling, as if someone was watching me. I took my clothes, and put them on, ignoring everything I felt. I went out to find that she had prepared a sandwich and a cup of coffee. I sat down to start eating, I looked up at the wall clock, to find it stopping at exactly 01:30, I checked my wristwatch; it was almost eight.
- I only have half an hour left—will I make it on time?
She let out a soft laugh, one that captured my heart:
- You always say that, and you arrive exactly at the right time.
I got up after drinking the cup of coffee in a hurry, I went out of the apartment to see my neighbor coming out of her apartment as well, I said hello, but as usual, she didn’t pay me any attention.
I went to work, and her words were true, I arrived on time, I sat at my desk to start my usual work. While I was doing so, my friend Serhan, who is the closest person to me, came saying:
- Hello, Jerden, why do you look pale?!
I looked at him in surprise:
- What do you mean by pale, I am as always, fine and well.
- I bet you stayed up late yesterday again.
- Well, you know the head of the department, and how he likes to throw all the tasks at me.
- You should learn how to say “No”.
- As long as I can handle it, what’s the problem?! Now, go before he comes.
I spent the rest of that day working on the documents and papers that the head of the department had brought to me, so that I wouldn’t feel the time until the sky outside darkened. I looked at my wristwatch to find it stopped at exactly 01:30. I hit it twice to make it start, but to no avail. I looked at the wall clock to find it also stopped at 01:30. I got up from my desk to look for everyone, but I didn’t find anyone. I left the office to see the black shadow moving towards me. I was terrified. I took two steps back to bump into my friend Serhan, who grabbed my shoulder:
- What’s wrong with you, Jerden? What are you doing in the corridor at this time?! Do you want the head of the department to reprimand you?!
I looked around and saw everyone in their places, as if nothing had changed. Serhan looked at my face wondering:
- You definitely look pale, my friend.
I looked back at the corridor, searching for the black shadow, but I didn’t see it. I was surprised by the brightness of the sun. I looked at my watch to find that it was still 3:00 PM. I removed Serhan’s hand from my shoulder and headed to my office, while my heart beat was racing.
