The Shadow

Published October 2025

All Rights Reserved

The Shadow:

Making my way inside my bedroom, I go to my bedside table, turning on my diffuser, releasing lavender mist into the air. On the right side of my room is a large fireplace as well as a platform stacked with firewood. I make my way over, placing some kindling as well as pine needles I’d gathered outside, into the fireplace. Grabbing a lighter, I set it aflame before adding a log and lighting it too, taking my time until it is fully engulfed. From there I stack the wood carefully to make sure it is close enough to catch, without burning myself in the process. I close my eyes, enjoying the warmth of the fire, knowing I have to be up early tomorrow.

I’d grabbed takeout, not having the energy to cook, scarfing it down before driving home so I could just head to bed and go to sleep sooner. Setting my timer for the next morning, I then go about preparing the coffee pot, adding grounds to the filter and water to the chamber. Soon the room is warm enough. Unzipping my jacket and taking off my boots, I climb into bed, pulling my covers over me. Today had been filled with filing reports and the constant staring at tiny letters on a screen had given me quite the headache.

Now all I wish to do is rest until I feel a hundred percent again.

In my nightmare, I awaken, surrounded by darkness, and yet the space is not truly empty. Whispers call out, too faint to make out. I step forward, fearing with each move that I will fall. The voices whisper, moving like wind around me. I call out, pleading for explanation, wishing for understanding but their answer is still too quiet. A deep fear like no other trickles through my body and I feel as if I am in grave danger. I begin to run but the voices only follow. Tripping, I fall hard.

I wake again, breathing heavily. I try to reassure myself that I’m fine, it’s just another nightmare.

Becoming more awake and focused, I realize it’s feeling much colder than when I’d fallen asleep before. I find it odd that the temperature doesn’t match in the room as it should. I then began to fear that perhaps I had left a window open.

I glance over to the side of my room, towards the window. It is closed, thankfully and I do not see daylight which pleases me, showing I had some more time to rest, despite whatever had woken me. Something else catches my attention, an odd shadow in the corner of my room. Curious and a bit concerned, I move to turn the light on when a voice in my head says: *Don’t move. It’s watching you.*

My heart hammers away in my chest.

It stands from the ground to the ceiling. At least a few feet taller than myself. All I can see are its eyes watching me intently. I pull my covers closer, curling my legs towards me. It doesn’t react as I shift in bed, making more noise than I mean to.

Still, it takes no action.

The creature doesn’t make a sound. It doesn’t even breathe. This terrifies me for how can I protect myself against such a crazy thing?

As I continue listening intently, only silence follows. Such a large creature surely should make some sound. The realization that it doesn’t only unnerves me further. If I hadn’t accidentally caught sight of it, I would’ve never known it was here. My mind bounces between safety and curiosity. Will it harm me? What does it want? It only watches, doing nothing. I grip my sheets so tightly my fingers begin to cramp up and I wince, adjusting. I’d never feared living alone until now.

Time continues to pass and still, it doesn’t move. Something in me tells me to remain alert, that it may be dangerous and could attack at any moment. My heart rate had finally slowed down but I stay focused, too unnerved to find sleep. I watch it as it watches me, the two of us never moving.

I’m not certain as to why it’s here but even its presence is utterly terrifying.

The eyes have no soul to them, no kindness.

I wonder how long this shadowy figure had been watching me. Is it responsible for my nightmares?

More importantly, why is it watching me?

The night drags on and without meaning to, I fall asleep again.

The shadowy creature would come again. Each time bringing a nightmare more terrifying than the next. In a few desperate attempts, I’d tried sleeping in other areas of the house, having the covers over my face, and when those didn’t work, a worse move- to not sleep at all. It only lasted two days before I passed out on the couch and it came.

Each night it came for me, it would be one step closer. It never moved throughout the night, only being a bit closer each time it appeared. Finally, on the last night, it would be over my bed. That morning, not wanting to take one more night of this madness and not knowing if this night will be my last anyway, I take a fatal dose of pain medication, slipping away in my sleep.

The creature could never come for me again.