Don’t Look at Me, Darling

Lila Monroe believed silence was normal. Until the night it started feeling wrong. Not peaceful. Not calm. But heavy… like something unseen was holding its breath around her. Watching. Waiting. It was 10:47 PM when her phone lit up on the desk. She didn’t rush to check it. Something about the notification made her pause. Unknown number. Her brows slowly furrowed. Who texts someone they don’t know at this time of night? Carefully, she unlocked her phone. Unknown: “I saw you today.” Lila stared at the screen. No name. No context. Just four words that made her stomach tighten. Today? She tried to think. School. Home. Library. Nothing unusual. So who was watching her? Her fingers moved quickly. Lila: “Who are you?” She pressed send. Then waited. Nothing. No typing. No reply. Just silence. She locked her phone and placed it beside her pillow. It’s a prank, she told herself. Someone bored. Someone stupid. But her heartbeat didn’t agree. It was too loud. Too fast. Lila stood up and walked toward the window. Outside, the city looked normal. Cars passed slowly. Streetlights glowed softly. People walked without care. Everything looked fine. But she didn’t feel fine. She pulled the curtain halfway… then stopped. Something about the darkness outside felt off. Like it wasn’t just empty. Like it was hiding something. Her phone buzzed again. She turned instantly. Her heart jumped before she even touched it. Unknown: “You looked beautiful today.” Lila’s breath stopped. Her grip tightened on the phone. This wasn’t random anymore. This was specific. Too specific. She typed faster this time. Lila: “Stop this. Who are you? How do you know me?” She hit send. Her hands were starting to shake now. Seconds later, the reply came. Instant. As if he was waiting. Unknown: “Don’t turn around.” Lila frowned. “What?” Her voice came out low, almost a whisper. Slowly, she turned her head toward the mirror in her room. Her reflection stared back. Nothing behind her moved. Nothing changed. But the air… felt different. Heavier. She stepped back slowly. Her breathing became uneven. Lila: “This isn’t funny. Stop texting me.” Silence again. No reply. No typing. Just nothing. For a moment, she thought it was over. Then— Unknown: “You’re safe… for now.” Her phone slipped slightly in her hand. Her knees felt weak as she sat down on the bed. Her mind refused to process it. Safe… for now? What did that even mean? Outside, a car passed slowly. Its headlights swept across her room for a second. And in that brief moment… Lila swore she felt like someone was standing just outside her window. But when she looked— There was nothing. Only darkness. And for the first time that night… Lila understood something terrifying. This wasn’t a prank. This wasn’t random. Someone had been watching her. For longer than she thought.