Chapter 2: The House That Learns You
I left the house immediately.
Went straight to my neighbor’s door.
Pounding.
“Call someone. Something’s wrong with my house.”
Mrs. Harlow opened the door slowly.
Looked at me.
Then frowned.
“You look pale, dear.”
“Please,” I said. “Just let me stay here for a bit.”
She tilted her head.
Then smiled faintly.
“You already did.”
My blood ran cold.
“What?”
She stepped aside.
Inside her living room…
Was me.
Sitting on her couch.
Drinking tea.
Looking up at me.
And smiling politely.
I stumbled backward.
“No… no, no—”
Mrs. Harlow sighed.
“You’ve been coming here every night this week.”
“That’s impossible!”
She frowned.
“You always forget.”
My vision blurred.
I turned and ran.
Back to my house.
Against every instinct.
Because I needed proof.
When I entered…
Everything looked normal.
Too normal.
The bed was made.
The mirror was covered.
The closet was shut.
Like nothing had ever happened.
I walked to the mirror.
Slowly uncovered it.
And froze.
Because inside it…
There were two of me.
One standing.
One lying in bed.
Both awake.
Both watching me.
Then the standing one inside the mirror whispered:
“You keep leaving.”
I whispered back:
“Who are you?”
It smiled.
May you like
And said:
“I’m the part of you the house keeps.”
