Whispers of desires

chapter 12 - Echoes in the mist.

Chapter - Echoes in the Mist

The fog rolled in thick and silent, blanketing the city streets in an ethereal haze. Yuvika walked down the narrow road leading back to her hostel, the mist swirling around her feet as if trying to pull her in. She hugged her books close, shivering slightly, but not from the cold. Ever since that first message weeks ago, she had felt a strange presence around her-a silent whisper that lingered in the shadows, a gaze that seemed to follow her every move.

Tonight, however, the feeling was different. It was intense, almost like a pulse she could feel in her bones. She glanced over her shoulder, half-expecting to see someone standing just behind her. But the street was empty, filled only with the dim glow of the streetlights filtering through the mist.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket, making her jump. She pulled it out, her hands trembling as she read the message.

"Look up, Yuvika."

Her breath hitched. Slowly, she raised her gaze, scanning the foggy street. Then, she saw him-or rather, she saw a figure, a silhouette barely visible in the mist, standing beneath a streetlamp. He wore a dark hoodie, his face obscured in shadow, but his posture was unmistakably focused on her.

Yuvika froze, her heart pounding as she clutched her phone. Every instinct told her to run, but something held her in place. She couldn't look away from him, this stranger who had haunted her life with his silent, unwavering attention.

The next message came swiftly, his words eerily calm.

"Don't be afraid. I'm just here to make sure you get home safely."

Her fingers tightened around her phone as she replied, her words a mixture of frustration and fear.

"Who are you? Why are you doing this?"

A moment of silence passed before he responded.

"I'm someone who understands you, Yuvika. Someone who's seen the loneliness behind your smile."

His words sank into her, an unsettling mix of intimacy and distance. She swallowed, feeling a strange tug in her chest. He was speaking as though he knew her, as though he'd watched her for longer than she realized. Her hand shook as she typed back.

"You don't know me."

"Don't I?" came the reply, immediate, unhesitating. "I know you're afraid of letting people in. I know you hide behind that bright, brave face. And I know you feel like no one truly sees you."

A chill ran through her. His words echoed her deepest thoughts, things she'd barely admitted to herself, let alone anyone else. She backed away, clutching her books like a shield as she turned to walk faster.

The mist seemed to thicken, every step muffled, the silence pressing in around her. But before she could get far, her phone buzzed again.

"I didn't mean to scare you. But you should know I'm not leaving, Yuvika. I'm here for you... always."

---

The following day, Yuvika tried to shake off the encounter, burying herself in classes and assignments. She told herself it was just an overactive imagination, just some strange coincidence. But the tension lingered, a shadow she couldn't quite escape.

That evening, as she returned to her hostel room, she found a small package waiting on her bed. It was wrapped in brown paper, with a simple note attached:

"For you. It's a little something to remind you that you're not alone."

Her heart raced as she tore open the paper. Inside was an old, leather-bound book, its cover faded with age. She opened it to find its pages filled with handwritten poetry, delicate verses that spoke of solitude, hidden dreams, and longing. It was beautiful, haunting in its rawness, and the words seemed to resonate with something deep within her.