Meera's words stayed with me.
"I left someone behind."
The thought felt heavy.
Not just fear.
But guilt.
The next morning—
Meera looked exhausted.
"I barely slept," she said.
"Do you remember anything new?" I asked.
She nodded slowly.
"Just… a hand."
"A hand?" I repeated.
"Yes… someone was holding my hand in the corridor."
My heart skipped.
"And then?"
"I let go," she whispered.
Silence filled the space between us.
"Maybe you didn't mean to," I said gently.
"But the shadow thinks I did," she replied.
That night—
We prepared ourselves.
When the dream started—
The corridor was filled with smoke again.
But this time—
We stood closer to the child.
She looked smaller.
Fragile.
"Who are you?" Meera asked softly.
The child didn't answer.
She just extended her hand.
Like she wanted help.
Meera slowly stepped forward.
"I'm here," she whispered.
The moment Meera reached out—
The shadow appeared suddenly.
Larger.
Darker.
"No," it whispered.
The corridor shook.
The child faded again.
"Why won't it let us see her?" I asked.
Meera looked confused.
"Maybe… it is her," she whispered.
The thought hit me.
"What if the shadow… is the missing child?"
The lights flickered.
The shadow stepped closer.
And for the first time—
Its shape softened.
Like it wasn't just darkness.
But someone.
"You forgot me…" it whispered.
Meera shook her head.
"I didn't mean to," she said.
The shadow paused.
The smoke cleared slightly.
For a second—
I saw a small face inside the darkness.
Then everything disappeared.
I woke up.
Message from Meera came.
"I think she's still there… waiting."
My heart felt heavy.
Because now—
We knew.
This wasn't just fear.
It was someone…
Who never left that corridor.