May 17th
I was unusually happy today. I mean, even if someone close to me blocks me, it doesn't bother me much anymore.
Tomorrow is someone special's birthday—my closest friend, Sarah. Everything feels perfectly fine.
WhatsApp Chat with Sarah
Ethan: Hey, sexy! 😅
Sarah: Hello! How are you? 😁
Ethan: I'm doing great! What about you? How's your health these days? 😃
Sarah: Everything is good. Thanks for asking. 🙃
Ethan: That's great to hear! 😄
Sarah: So, what's up? 😃
Ethan: Tomorrow, our university dean, Dr. Roberts, is going live to announce the exam dates. 😅🤣 Oh, and guess what? My phone recharge is also ending tomorrow.
Sarah: You forgot what's tomorrow, didn't you? 🙄😒😏
Ethan: Oh, come on! It's your birthday. Did you really think I'd forget, silly? 😅🤣😆 Just messing with you!
Sarah: Aww, so sweet of you, Ethan! 😄
Ethan: Don't get too sweet now. 😄
Sarah: You're crazy! 🤣🤣🤣😆
Ethan: By the way, were you born in the summer because you're so hot? 😅🤣😆🤣😆🤣
Sarah: Haha, maybe! 😄🤣
Ethan: Then I guess people born in December must be chill!
Sarah: 🤣🤣😆🤣😆🤣
The day passed smoothly, filled with laughter and random chats. After talking to Sarah for a while, I decided to take a short nap. My phone's battery was nearly dead, so I plugged it in to charge and lay down for a bit.
When I woke up, it was 7 PM. As usual, I attended an online Java class on my PC. After finishing the class, I had dinner—just some simple bread and potatoes. Then, at 9 PM sharp, my other friend, Emma, came online. She's so punctual that it's almost robotic.
While chatting with Emma, my cousins, Rayna and Samantha, came over. My dad was in the mood for some fun, so we decided to play carrom. It had been ages since we last played, and it was a blast, even though I lost every game.
A Mysterious Encounter
After the cousins left, my grandma started washing dishes. My mom wasn't feeling well, so grandma was taking care of the chores. The kitchen is right outside my room, so I overheard her saying, "Don't fall asleep with your phone next to you!"
I assured her I wasn't planning to sleep yet. I still had to wish Sarah on her birthday at midnight and planned to watch a few episodes of 13 Reasons Why afterward.
At around 11:45 PM, I was fully prepared. My Instagram story was ready, and I had typed a heartfelt message for Sarah.
WhatsApp Chat with Sarah
Ethan: Hey, hey, hey! 😆
Sarah: What's up? 😄
Ethan: You're about to turn 18 in 34 minutes! 🤣🤣
Sarah: Oh, stop it! 😄
Ethan: So, are we celebrating big later? 😆
Sarah: Definitely! 😆😆
Ethan: You bet, sexy. 🙂
Sarah: Haha, okay.
Ethan: Just 21 minutes left! 😆🤣
Sarah: Why are you making me nervous? 🤣🤣
Ethan: Only 15 minutes now!
Sarah: What should I do? 😲
Ethan: Dance! 🤣😅
Sarah: Nope, you dance instead, crazy! 😆🤣😅
Ethan: Just 2 minutes left!
As the clock struck midnight, I was ready to hit send. But when I tried posting the story, my network dropped! Frustrated, I wandered around my room, searching for a better signal.
That's when I noticed it—a shadow.
The Shadow
At first, I thought it might be my mom or grandma. But something about its size and movement felt... off. It lingered for about two seconds before disappearing toward my mom's room.
I immediately checked her room. The door was open, and she was fast asleep. Confused, I ran to my grandma's room and knocked on her door. She opened it, startled.
"Were you outside just now?" I asked.
"No," she replied, looking puzzled.
Now, my mind raced. The shadow couldn't have been human. The lights in our house are high up, and no normal person could cast such a large silhouette.
A Paranormal Possibility
I'd heard stories about how thinking too much about the paranormal can invite it into your life. But today wasn't a day of stress or negativity—I'd been in a great mood all day. So, what was this shadow?
Even as I lay down to sleep, my mind kept replaying the scene. The shadow's unnatural size, its fleeting presence... it was unlike anything I'd ever experienced.
At 3:03 AM, I decided to jot down everything. Maybe writing it out would help me make sense of it—or at least calm my nerves. But as I wrote, I couldn't shake the feeling that someone—or something—was still watching me.