Alone
Start writinShe placed her left hand against the wall, using her right to maneuver the thick curtain covering the window beside her bed. As the fabric shifted, a narrow sliver of moonlight crept in. Slowly, she lifted her upper body off the mattress, leaning forward to peer outside.
But before she could get a clear view, her attention snapped toward a sudden sound-a soft, metallic twist. The doorknob. It turned, as if someone on the other side was trying to open the door.
She froze.
Her eyes widened, bulging as if they might pop from their sockets. Slowly, she turned her head toward the door, her body tense and unmoving. The door creaked open. Inch by inch. Until it stood completely ajar.
She had woken moments ago to distant voices, assuming they came from outside. Curiosity-and maybe a touch of worry-had driven her to peek through the window. But now, her gaze was fixed on the open door. She waited, half-expecting her mom or sister to jump in yelling, "Surprise!" and start laughing.
But nothing happened.
No one came.
And the longer she stared into the doorway, the darker the hallway seemed to grow. The hairs on her arms stood at attention, rising like they were being summoned by something unseen. Her lips parted, and in a barely audible voice, she whispered:
"Mom... are you there?"
With trembling hands, she peeled off the blanket covering her legs. Her bare feet pressed into the floor-though the socks she wore dulled the sensation, she couldn't tell if it was cold or warm. She stood, cautious and quiet, then stepped to the edge of the bed and into the unknown.
As she crossed the threshold of her room, she immediately sensed it: a presence. Something-or someone-was with her. She wasn't alone.
The feeling grew heavier, thicker, like fog pressing in from all sides.
"It's just my imagination," she whispered, trying to calm herself. But her mind didn't believe it.
Her pace quickened.
The faster she moved, the closer the presence felt.
Panic set in.
Her legs moved on instinct, faster and faster, until she was running-though she couldn't even remember starting. But no matter how far she went, the darkness stretched endlessly before her, like the hallway had no end. Her lungs began to burn. Breathless and disoriented, she stopped to catch her breath.
That's when she noticed-everything was still. Silent.
The feeling of being followed vanished.
She stood there, trying to convince herself it was over. Maybe... it had gotten tired, too?
But before she could take another step, it returned.
Stronger.
She was too exhausted to run. Her muscles tensed, her body refused to move. She stood frozen, her eyes shut tight, mentally bracing for whatever came next.
Footsteps. Slow. Approaching.
Something exhaled behind her.
Alive.
Breathing.
Her heart pounded against her chest, harder than ever before. The weight of fear crushed her. And then-cold. A sensation like fingers resting on her shoulder, even though she wore a heavy sweater.
She turned her head just slightly-and what she saw made her scream for help.
