I didn’t think much of it when a man helped me load my groceries, seeing it as a simple act of kindness. But days later, I kept spotting him—watching from a distance. At first, I assumed it was a coincidence, but then the fear set in. Why was he always there?
I first saw him outside a café, then near a bookstore, and even outside my gym. Always at a distance, never approaching. I tried to ignore it, but the unease grew. One day, I tried to snap a picture, but my phone died. Later, when I saw him again at a café, a woman nearby couldn’t see him, which made me feel crazy.
I started avoiding places, but he still showed up. Then, while visiting my friend Elaine’s jewelry store, he appeared across the street. When I looked outside with her, he was gone. Elaine suggested I check security footage, and it showed that I was talking to no one in the parking lot. The man had never been real.
I sought answers and went to the supermarket, where I saw myself talking to thin air. The manager asked about the “missing ring,” but I couldn’t explain the man’s presence. Returning to Elaine, I admitted I needed help. After some encouragement, I saw a doctor who explained that my mind created the man as a way of coping with my grief over my late husband.
It was hard to accept, but with therapy, I began to heal. The stranger stopped appearing, and for the first time, I didn’t feel watched. Elaine stayed by my side, and with her support, I learned to face my grief instead of running from it.
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