Clara's phone buzzed on the coffee table, pulling her from her reverie. It was a message from Lisa, her best friend. “Out for a bit. Don’t wait up.” Clara frowned at the screen, her intuition prickling at the vague nature of the text. It was late—too late for casual outings.
The night was thick with an unsettling stillness, the kind that wrapped around Clara like a heavy blanket.
She sat curled up on the couch in the dimly lit living room, her mind racing with thoughts that refused to settle.
Shadows danced across the walls, flickering in the light of the single lamp that illuminated the space. Outside, the city hummed with life, but inside, Clara felt a sense of isolation that gnawed at her.
Clara glanced at the clock on the wall; it was nearly midnight. She couldn’t shake the feeling
