The Shadow in the Study

April 25, 2026

by Emmy

I was in the study, trying to understand the events of last night. My desk sits against the wall, holding an older model of monitor. It was slow, but its screen still cast a faint glow across the room. Next to the desk is a large window that looks out onto the street. At night, when cars pass, their headlights paint bright shapes on the ceiling that slide away into nothing.

I was leaning back in my desk chair, messaging a cousin who lived far away. My dog was asleep on the rug behind me. I was tired of waiting for a response, so I rocked gently in the chair, watching my distorted shape move on the wall. The house was silent. My father was asleep in his bedroom, his heavy breathing just audible, and my sister was on the floor above. If she had decided to come down, the old wooden steps would have announced her arrival with a series of groans.

I turned to face the monitor again to see if my cousin had finally replied.

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