**Diary Entry**
Some things you only notice when you look too closely or when something refuses to look back. For me, it started with something I didnt see. A shadow. My daughters shadow. It wasnt there. And it hasnt returned since.
Her name is Emily. Shes twelve. She loves strawberries, maths, and practising TikTok dances in front of the cracked bathroom mirror. For the first twelve years of her life, Emily was sunshine with legsmessy braids, muddy socks, always humming some off-key tune. Until three weeks ago. Thats when she started coming home at 1:00 AM.
The first night, I nearly fainted when the front door creaked open so late. Id fallen asleep on the sofa waiting for her after her after-school club. She was supposed to be back by 6:30 PM. When it hit 10:00, I called the school, her friends, her tutorno one had seen her.
Then, at 1:00 AM, she walked in.
Too calm. Far too calm.
I jumped up. Emily! Where were you? I was
But she just lifted her hand slowly and said, Dont worry, Im fine.
That was it. No tears. No apologies. No fear. She walked straight to her room and locked the door.
I stared at the floor for a long time. Something felt off. The air around her was icy, like shed stepped out of a freezer. The hallway lights flickered, then steadied. I told myself I was overthinking. Kids her age get strange sometimes, dont they?
I was wrong.
The next night, the same thing. She didnt return until 1:00 AM. Again, she walked in like she lived in another time zone, no explanations. Same words. Same tone.
But this time, I noticed. She passed under the dining room lamp and her shadow didnt.
It just wasnt there. No outline. No shape. Nothing.
I thought I was hallucinating. I turned on every light in the house and made her stand beneath them. Still nothing. The light lit up her face, but the floor behind her stayed empty. She noticed me staring.
Whats wrong, Mum? she asked.
I blinked. Nothing. Just tired.
She nodded and walked away. And I watched her go, her body moving but no shadow following.
The next day, I called the school and asked why they were letting her out so late. The woman on the phone hesitated. Then she said, Miss Harper, your daughter hasnt attended school since the midterm exams over three weeks ago. We sent letters, but you never replied.
My heart stopped.
She leaves every morning, I whispered. In her uniform. Even takes her water bottle.
After the call, I went to check the fridge. Her water bottle was still there. Untouched. Exactly as Id left it the day of the last exam.
That night, I didnt sleep. I turned off all the lights. Sat by the living room window. And waited.
At exactly 1:00 AM, the front gate opened by itself.
And she walked in.
Emily. But not Emily.
On the outside, she looked the same. But her eyes didnt blink like they used to. Her breathing had a strange rhythm. She tilted her head at me.
Why are you awake, Mum? she asked.
I forced a smile. Waiting for you.
Then I said something I hadnt planned: Wheres your shadow?
She smiled. But not with her mouthwith something colder.
It stayed behind.
She walked past me.
But I swearwhen she passed the hallway mirror, something flickered in it for just a second.
Something taller than her.
Something with eyes too wide and a smile too thin.
