The sun, coming through the gauzy curtains, cast a warm light over what was little more than a closet. Like clockwork, Raelynn woke before her alarm, laying in bed and staring at the ceiling, wondering why she even bothered setting an alarm half the time.
"Another day," she mumbled as she rolled out of bed.
The same routine. Get up, get ready, go to work, come home, sleep - repeat. Every day bled into the next, and yet, there was a nagging feeling that today should be different. She couldn't explain why, but it was as if a small voice inside her whispered that today should be special. Her eyes stung, and a tear rolled down her face as she rubbed her tired eyes.
Her body went through the motions automatically, on autopilot. Just updates from social media that she hardly paid attention to anymore, nothing urgent. She felt as though the weight of daily routine was suffocating her. She got to her feet, stretched, and put on her old jeans and sweater.
As she quickly stepped past the mirror, something made her pause. A shadow, maybe? It was gone in an instant, but she could have sworn she saw something flash by faintly. She squinted at her reflection - tired eyes stared back at her.
"You should go back to sleep," she muttered, sweeping her hair out of her face. "Or maybe less coffee."
Shaking off the weird moment, she trotted downstairs. The sweet aroma of coffee greeted her, the only sound breaking the stillness was the bubbling of the coffee pot. It wasn't like anyone else would be there. She wasn't expecting visitors. Loneliness was a burden she knew all too well.
Her phone buzzed, and she glanced at the screen.
Coffee? Same place? I need to vent about Greg. Again.
She sighed and shot back a reply, quickly.
Sure, see you in 20.
The café wasn't far - a ten-minute stroll through the quiet residential streets. The cool morning air nipped at her cheeks as she stepped outside, a welcome relief from the stuffiness of her room. She shoved her hands deep into the pockets of her coat, hurrying to escape the cold.
As always, the streets were empty. A car or two whizzed by quietly. She passed by familiar shops, their windows showing the same displays as yesterday. Everything was predictable. Nothing ever changed here.
The shadow from the mirror replayed itself in her mind. It wasn't the first weird thing that had happened recently - shadowy flickers that disappeared as soon as they formed, strange sensations. But they never lasted long enough to really worry her.
A chill ran down her spine as she turned the corner toward the café. But this wasn't just the cold. It was something else, like someone had walked over her grave. She glanced behind her, half-expecting to see someone there, but the street was empty.
"Get a grip," she muttered, increasing her pace. "You're just tired."
The café bell chimed as she pushed the door open. Warmth and coffee scent wrapped around her. Mia was already at their usual table, eyes glued to her phone, coffee the size of her head in one hand.
"I swear, if Greg doesn't figure out how to text like a normal human being, I'm going to lose it," Mia grumbled, barely looking up. She took a slow sip and regarded her critically. "You look like you haven't slept in a week."
She forced a smile and sat across from her. "Just tired. Work. Sleep. Repeat."
"Uh-huh," Mia said, clearly unconvinced. "You've been saying that for weeks. You need to do something. A trip. A date. A damn vacation."
"I don't know. I just... I feel off lately. Like something's missing." She tugged at the frayed edge of her sweater, refusing to meet Mia's gaze.
"You're just bored. You need to go out more. Maybe a date?" Mia grinned, waggling her eyebrows. "I know someone-"
"Not a chance," she interrupted, laughing lightly. "Last thing I need is another headache."
"Suit yourself." Mia crunched back in her chair, arms crossed. "But seriously, you've been acting weird lately. You sure everything's okay?"
She hesitated. Could she tell Mia about the shadows? The strange feelings? No, Mia would just brush it off or, worse, suggest she needed therapy.
"Yeah, I'm fine," she lied. "Just... stressed, I guess."
Mia studied her for a moment, but eventually let it go. The conversation shifted to Mia's relationship drama and Greg's texting habits. They shared some unimportant work gossip, but her mind kept drifting back to the odd moments of the last few days. The flicker in the mirror. The chill she felt earlier.
After an hour of forced smiles and half-hearted responses, she excused herself, claiming she had errands to run. The truth was, she just needed space - needed to clear her head.
The walk back felt longer than usual, the streets quieter. More than once she caught herself looking over her shoulder, convinced someone - or something - was watching her. But every time she turned around, there was... nothing. Only the empty streets and a faint background noise of traffic, ages away.
When she finally reached her apartment, her hands shook as she fumbled with the key. The feeling trailed her inside, taking up residence in the hollow of her belly. Behind her, she locked the door and leaned back for a moment. A little longer this time to rid herself of the creeping feeling that something was not okay.
She even heard it in her mind: "It's stress," she would tell herself, quietly and forcefully pushing the feeling back down.
But deep down, she knew. Something wasn't right.
She walked to the window, looking out over the street. Everything was as it should be. People passed. Cars rolled by. But her reflection caught her eye.
There. Behind her.
A ripple.
A shadow.
She spun.
Empty room.
And yet, the feeling remained - like something had followed her home. Not footsteps. Not sound.
Presence.
She stayed frozen for a long time, watching her reflection, barely breathing. In the glass, the room behind her was dim.
And in that crepuscular hush, a shape waited just beyond reach.
Not outside.
Inside.