The Woman In The Mirror

‎I have lived in this house for exactly one year. It is a beautiful, old two-story building on the edge of town,tall windows, dark wood floors, and a silence so deep it feels like it’s holding its breath. To the neighbors, I am Lena Moore, a quiet graphic designer who moved here after losing everything in the city. They smile when I pass by, unaware that I am not running from a past, but hiding from a truth I cannot face. ‎ ‎Every morning follows the same routine. I wake up at six, make coffee, and sit by the window. But for the past three weeks, something has changed. It started small ,objects shifting slightly from where I left them. A book on the table, my hairbrush on the bathroom counter. I told myself it was stress, that I was just tired. ‎ ‎Then came the sounds. ‎ ‎Not loud noises, but whispers. Faint, breathless murmurs that echo through the hallways when the house is quiet. At first, I thought it was the wind, or the old pipes. But last night, I heard it clearly,a woman’s voice, soft and trembling, calling my name. ‎ ‎"Lena..." ‎ ‎I sat up in bed, my heart hammering against my ribs. The voice came from the hallway. I grabbed the heavy lamp from my bedside table and stepped out into the darkness. The floorboards creaked under my bare feet. The house felt colder than usual, the air thick and heavy like a storm was coming. ‎ ‎I walked down the hall, toward the source of the sound,the large, antique mirror hanging at the end of the corridor. It was here when I moved in, a massive thing with a tarnished silver frame. I never liked looking at it; something about the way it reflected the light felt... off. ‎ ‎As I stood before it, the hallway light flickered. My reflection stared back at me,pale skin, dark hair messy, eyes wide with fear. But then, my breath caught in my throat. ‎ ‎Behind me, in the reflection, there was a shadow. ‎ ‎A figure standing in the darkness of the room behind me. I spun around quickly, lamp raised, ready to strike. But no one was there. The hallway was empty. When I turned back to the mirror, the shadow was gone. ‎ ‎I backed away, trembling, and locked myself in my bedroom. Sleep didn’t come easy. I kept wondering,am I losing my mind? Or is there something, someone, else in this house?