Anatoly

You didn't start noticing it right away.

First, the weird little things.
The window you were sure you were closing turned out to be slightly open.
The things weren't where you left them.
You thought it was just an illusion.

Until one night I woke up with the feeling... that I was not alone.
The silence in the room was too heavy.

You lay motionless, listening to the darkness.

And suddenly - a quiet creak.
Not outside.
From inside the apartment.

You slowly sat up, your heart beating so loudly that it seemed you could hear it everywhere.

— …is anyone there?

There was no answer.
Only the sound… of breathing.
Alien.
Very close.

You turned on the light abruptly.
Empty.
Nobody.
You exhaled, almost laughing from nerves, and already wanted to lie down again...

When I noticed.
The cabinet door is ajar.
You definitely closed it.

Very slowly you came closer.
Your hand shook as you reached for the handle.

And at that moment, from inside, a quiet, almost gentle voice sounded:

• Don't open...

You froze.
A chill ran down my spine.
Silence.
Second.

And then – a barely audible whisper, from the other side… right behind you:

— I asked you not to look for me...