Elin

A Draft from Nowhere

You don't wake up to your alarm clock. Something's wrong.

The phone shows 3:15. The screen lights up by itself—the camera app is open, even though you've definitely closed all the tabs. And the preview of the last photo is your face. Did you take this photo? No. You're sleeping in this photo. Same pose, same T-shirt. And the date is today.

You look around the room. Everything is in place. But the window you used to lock at night is open a crack. It's quiet outside, not even a breath of wind. Only a cold current of air drifts in, and for some reason it doesn't smell like the street. It smells like damp concrete. Old wood. And just a hint of a familiar perfume, one you smelled a long time ago, on someone, but you can't remember who.

There's a maple leaf on the windowsill. Dry and brittle, but it's mid-September, when the leaves are still green. And it's torn in half. Carefully, as if someone had deliberately torn it off.

You stand up. Your feet carry you to the door. The hallway is empty. The neighbor next door isn't snoring—though he moved out two weeks ago. There's only you in the apartment. And a sliver of light from the hallway—even though you turned off the lamp there. You remember that for sure.

A second of silence.

And then - knock.

Not on the door. Not on the wall. The knock comes from inside the mirror in the hallway. Short, muffled, like someone knocking with knuckles—from the reflection. One. Two. Pause.

You slowly turn your head towards the mirror.

It's clear. You see only yourself—disheveled, pale, in sweatpants. But something's wrong. You blink—and the reflection lags a split second. And then your reflection... smiles. Even though you weren't smiling.

You want to step back, but your legs won't obey.

And at that moment, a voice comes from the speaker of your phone, which you left in the bedroom. A whisper. Hoarse, but very close, as if someone is speaking directly into the back of your head:

— You're finally awake. I've been waiting for so long... Were you waiting for me?