I keep walking, only about twenty minutes from my unit.
Until I remember something. "Oh, come on! Not now, not now, not now," I grunt. I need to run some errands, my weekly groceries.
I turn back, heading toward the supermarket. One thing I love about living here. There's a supermarket. No need to leave the area for anything I need.
I walk hastily before it gets dark, passing the fountain and pretending nothing happened. I can't stop glancing around, searching for the shadow I thought I saw, but it's not there. Okay, it must be because of the sleepless night, I hum to myself.
Still, I quicken my pace, feeling like something is behind me, watching.
My phone buzzes. I immediately grab it. It's a message from Mom:
"Hi love, I hope everything's alright. Call me when you have time. We've sent you some money for this month. With love, Mom and Dad."
I furrow my brow and reply, "Everything's fine, just a bit busier than usual. Thanks, Mom and Dad."
I roll my eyes. With love, Mom and Dad, as if they weren't fighting last night, I whisper.
I keep walking until the supermarket comes into view, a small building just near the football field.
Inside, I pass the turnstile. Not many people are there. I quickly grab my groceries: 1L full cream milk, penne pasta, instant pasta sauce, stir-fry beef, frozen vegetables, sanitary items, and a cup of mixed fruit.
At the cashier, he greets me and scans everything. "The total is $43."
I smile, tap my card since they only accept cards, say thank you, and grab my groceries.
It is 5:10 PM. The sun is still shining. I choose the longer path back to my studio apartment to refresh my mind.
Passing the green football field is peaceful. The breeze ruffles the Casuarina trees along the way. Their leaves make a whooshing sound, almost like the ocean. It clears my mind.
I enjoy the late afternoon walk. There is no one here. Most students avoid this path and prefer busier routes. That is the perk of living on a 340-hectare campus with plenty of green views.
Time passes quickly. I pass the fountain again but don't care this time. I'm convinced it was just a hallucination.
Finally, I arrive at my dorm entrance. I grab my access card attached to my MagSafe wallet, walk to the elevator, and press 7 for my floor. As I press the button, I remember Dr. Margareth Collins, the doctor Dr. Andrew recommended.
Uhm, I think I'll just talk about it tomorrow with Luna, I hum.
I cannot wait for a hot shower and a good rest tonight. When the elevator opens on Level 7, I walk lazily toward my studio apartment.
I open the door and turn on the light. "Welcome to my crib," I say to myself, as I take off my shoes and place them on the shoe shelf to my left. I always love being inside my place. It's not big, but it's comfy.
I decorated my small white-painted student studio with a touch of classic style to make it feel warmer and cozier. The afternoon light spills through sheer curtains, warming the plain walls, while a creaky chair and a small desk by the window make the space feel lived-in. Books and scattered notes line the shelf, and a soft lamp glow at night gives the room a quiet, comforting vibe. It's simple, but after a while, it starts to feel like home.
I wash my hands and lower the blinds near the study desk. I'll lower the bedroom blinds after taking a shower. I don't want my outside clothes brushing against my bed.
I grab a glass, fill it with tap water, take a gulp, sigh, and decide to take a shower. The sun is below the horizon. I grab my towel from the balcony, where the sunlight dried it. I like it crisp.
Then I hear the noisy afternoon flocks of sulphur-crested cockatoos calling to each other to regroup. Oh, I need to hurry and take a shower. I just don't like showering when the sun is swapping with the moon.
I have a very nice thirty-minute hot shower until the mirror steams up. I feel all the tension in my muscles loosen, relief washing over me. But just outside the bathroom, there's a smoke detector. I hope the steam doesn't set it off.
I step out and head to my bedroom. I open my cupboard and take out my beige cotton pajamas.
I lather my whole body with almond-honey-scented lotion and spray matching body mist. I love smelling good when I go to sleep.
I grab my hair dryer near the window and lower the blind. I dry my layered shoulder-length dark brown hair. It's not thick, so it dries easily.
My stomach growls. I haven't had dinner, but I'm too lazy to fix something and brush my teeth afterward. I choose to lie on my bed and scroll through threads. I love when people discuss their current reads. It's so much fun.
Eventually, my eyes grow heavy.
I drift off to sleep. My phone slips from my hand and lands beside me on the bed, perfectly positioned, the screen upside down.
Minutes slip by, then hours.
Suddenly, that feeling comes again. Weird, heavy pressure in my chest. I open my eyes. Everything looks just as it should.
My phone buzzes. I peer at it. It's a message from Luna. I reach for it, relieved I can move this time. Thank God.
I open the message.
Luna: "Hi Em, still awake?"Me: "Just about to sleep. I'm trying to get a decent rest tonight. What's up?"
We end up messaging for a while until Luna brings up the main topic.
Luna: "We need to go to Level 7 tomorrow to ask about Dr. Margareth Collins' schedule at the receptionist before we start the day with the haemorrhoidectomy procedure at 9 a.m. What do you think?"
Me: "Oh yeah, I was going to mention that tomorrow. How about we meet at 7:30 a.m. in the lobby?"
Luna: "Perfect! See you tomorrow, Em. Have a good rest.
"Me: "Thanks, see ya. Night night."
I tap the lock button and place the phone beside me, then drift back to sleep. The clock shows 3:17 a.m.
I sleep as if in darkness, not remembering whether I had a dream, until the noisy calls of a flock of birds waking each other signal that the sun has begun to rise.
I wake up, stretching my arms and waist like I always do. I forgot to turn off the light last night, so I slept in a bright room. It was a good sleep. I reach for my water bottle on the small desk beside me and take a gulp.
I glance at my watch. It's 5:00 a.m. I don't feel like sleeping again, so I make my bed and walk to the balcony.
The sky is beautiful, pale and quiet, a soft mix of indigo and lavender, with the first hints of gold brushing the horizon. The world seems to hold its breath before sunrise.
I take a deep breath and open the window, leaving only the fly screen close. I eat my usual breakfast, wash the dishes, and prepare my clothes for the day. I grab my navy long-sleeve blouse and black trousers, then head to the bathroom.
I brush my teeth and look in the mirror. My face looks fresher today, must be the good sleep, even though the dark circles are still visible. A morning shower is always refreshing. The smell of vanilla body wash uplifting my mood. I'm ready to start the day.
I get dressed, spray three spritzes of Diptyque Philosykos, grab my bag, and head to the hospital.
It's 6:15 a.m., but I decide to leave early. I want to feel the morning air filling my lungs and enjoy a calm walk without rushing.
As I pass along the path, surfing the internet on my phone, I see only one or two people jogging. The campus is quiet. The faint rustle of leaves and distant chirping birds makes the morning feel calm and slow.
My phone buzzes. It's Luna.
Luna: "Em, let me know if you arrive early. I think I left the house too soon. Just come and wait in my car. I'll be there in 20 minutes or less.
"Me: "Hey, how do you know? Haha. No worries, I'm on my way."
After a twenty-minute walk, I finally arrive at the hospital.
The parking area is mostly empty. I spot Luna's black Hyundai i30 and walk toward it.
She recognizes me and opens the window.
"Good morning, Em. Come in." She unlocks the door, and I slide into the passenger seat. Her car is full of personality: pink theme, a pink faux fur dashboard cover, and a little cotton candy tree air freshener hanging from the rearview mirror.
"Hi Luna, good morning, girl," I say, smiling. We chit-chat about the upcoming Zara Larsson concert. I hope we weren't medical students so we could actually attend.
Time flies, and she says, "Em, it's almost 7:15. Let's go upstairs," fixing her hair in the mirror. We head to the building, weaving past people starting to arrive for work and patients emerging from the parking lot.
We reach the elevator and press 7. The vibe is quieter than the lobby, maybe because it's the sleep medicine department. Ridiculous logic, but whatever.
We approach the receptionist, a woman in a white blouse under a grey button-up cardigan and dark trousers. Her name tag reads Sara. "Hi, good morning. Can I help you find a department or a doctor?" she asks warmly.
"Good morning. Could you tell us how to get to Dr. Margareth Collins in the sleep medicine department?" Luna asks.
"Have you got an appointment?" the receptionist asks.
"We'd like to check Dr. Margareth Collins' schedule," Luna replies.
"Perfect, we can make an appointment for tomorrow morning at 8:00," Sara says, typing on her computer. "You're all set."
We thank her and start to turn away.
The hallway feels normal, quiet, still, familiar.
But then I feel it again, a cold prickle crawling down my spine, like someone is watching me. I glance over my shoulder.
The corridor is empty.
The fluorescent lights above flicker for a fraction of a second, and the hum of the hospital feels wrong.
I hear it, faint but unmistakable, a whisper of my name, almost carried on the air: "Emma…"
I freeze. My chest tightens, my pulse racing. Luna notices my sudden pause. "Em? Are you okay?"
I shake my head, trying to dismiss it. "Yeah… yeah, I'm fine," I whisper, though my voice trembles.
But just as I take a step forward, a shadow flickers at the very edge of my vision, moving in a way that shouldn't be possible.
I blink and it's gone.
But the whisper lingers in my ears.
And I realize, with a sinking feeling in my stomach, that this is only the beginning…