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\nA man walking on sidewalk during night | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n
Jack arrives home every night at 2 a.m., exhausted from his late shift. Without fail, he sees a woman standing by her window, waving at him. He can\u2019t shake the feeling that something is off about this nightly wave. When he finally decides to uncover the truth, what he discovers is far more shocking than he ever imagined.<\/p>\n
I was tired when I got home from work.<\/p>\n
It was 2 a.m., and my night shift had been long. As usual, I parked my car and walked to my apartment. And it was then I noticed her again.<\/p>\n
\nA man walking on sidewalk during night | Source: Pexels<\/p>\n
Every night, without fail, that strange woman was there, standing by her window, waving at me. I never saw her during the day, and even on weekends when I stayed home, she was nowhere to be found. Usually, I visit my parents on weekends, so I\u2019m not around much.<\/p>\n
Why is she always there at this hour? I wondered. I didn\u2019t know her name, but she seemed to be in her thirties.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/ezzuye.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/c3dafcd04378abedd787dafca2c495bb2859dc856fb1382adaf081db18f7b66d.png\")
<\/p>\n
A woman looking through the window | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n
I work a weird schedule, and I usually arrive home at 2 a.m.<\/p>\n
This strange routine of hers had been going on for weeks now, and I couldn\u2019t help but wonder about her as I kept walking to my apartment. Was she lonely? Did she work night shifts like me? I tried to shake off the curiosity, telling myself it was none of my business.<\/p>\n
We had never spoken, never exchanged a word. It was like she only existed at night.<\/p>\n
I entered my building, my thoughts still on the mysterious woman. Maybe she just had a strange habit of watching the parking lot at night, I thought.<\/p>\n
One rare day off, I decided to stay home and relax. It was midday, and the sun was shining brightly. I stepped outside for some fresh air and noticed a realtor showing the woman\u2019s house to a couple. Curious, I walked over to them.<\/p>\n
\u201cExcuse me,\u201d I said, catching the realtor\u2019s attention. \u201cI noticed you\u2019re showing this place. Do you know the woman who lives here?\u201d<\/p>\n
The realtor looked puzzled. \u201cA woman? I\u2019m sorry, but there hasn\u2019t been anyone living here for months. The previous owner passed away.\u201d<\/p>\n
I stared at him, taken aback. \u201cPassed away? But I see her every night, standing by the window and waving at me. Are you sure?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m certain, sir. The house has been vacant since the previous owner died. Maybe you\u2019re mistaken.\u201d<\/p>\n
I didn\u2019t believe in ghosts or any paranormal stuff, so I was 100% sure I saw a real woman wave at me every night. This didn\u2019t make any sense.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere has to be some mistake,\u201d I said. \u201cI see her every night at 2 a.m. She waves at me from that window.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\nConcrete building with glass windows | Source: Unsplash<\/p>\n
The realtor frowned and glanced at the window I pointed to. \u201cI don\u2019t know what to tell you, sir. I\u2019ve been handling this property since it went on the market, and I can assure you nobody lives here.\u201d<\/p>\n
How could this be possible? I was certain I saw a woman. She seemed so real, waving at me every night. I thought the realtor must have things mixed up.<\/p>\n
As I headed back to my apartment, I couldn\u2019t help but feel unsettled. What was going on? Was there really no one in that apartment?<\/p>\n
My logical mind refused to accept the idea of ghosts. There had to be an explanation. I decided to keep an eye out and see if I could figure out what was happening.<\/p>\n
But that night, I had to visit Mom, so I couldn\u2019t solve the mystery. The next night, when I got back home from work, though, I was ready.<\/p>\n
I parked my car and looked up at the window. But she wasn\u2019t there. Determined to find answers, I walked up to her apartment and knocked on the window.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know you\u2019re in there. Open the window!\u201d I said loudly.<\/p>\n
After a moment, the window opened, and the woman looked out, startled.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2026 what\u2019s going on?\u201d she asked, her voice trembling. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, did you need something?\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/ezzuye.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/df9d308819e4779c02a0d789e5e0d9a2fbaf9f7377150353c5cbebc0c94acb08-1024x1024.png\")
\nA sad woman at the window | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I was right. Someone is living here. I spoke to a realtor yesterday. He told me the previous owner of this place died months ago. But I see you here every night. What\u2019s going on? Why do you wave at me every night?\u201d<\/p>\n
The woman\u2019s eyes widened, and she seemed even more frightened. \u201cI\u2026 I didn\u2019t want to bother you. I\u2019m so sorry. I wave because\u2026 it\u2019s comforting,\u201d she replied sadly. \u201cIt\u2019s just\u2026 It makes me feel less alone. And I haven\u2019t moved out. I live here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut he said the place has been empty. People have been touring your apartment.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI see,\u201d she sighed.<\/p>\n
She looked around nervously as if expecting someone to jump out. \u201cPlease, come in,\u201d she said, her voice shaking. \u201cIt\u2019s not safe to talk out here.\u201d<\/p>\n
I followed her inside. The apartment was tidy and minimalist, just like the realtor had said. We sat down, and she took a deep breath.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s your name?\u201d I asked gently. \u201cI\u2019m Jack.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m Claire,\u201d she replied. \u201cI\u2019m sorry for all this confusion. It must be my ex-boyfriend, Roger. He still has a key to my apartment.\u201d<\/p>\n
I was stunned. \u201cWhat? Why does he have a key?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe broke up because he turned out to be a terrible person,\u201d she explained. \u201cHe never returned the key, and I didn\u2019t bother contacting him again. I thought it was over.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut why would he be showing your apartment?\u201d I asked, still trying to process everything.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/ezzuye.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/87da7032e77b4c61ef6887e527a67fcc62194a92775dbe6fe49188b66240ed26-1024x1024.png\")
\nA couple chatting at home | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n
\u201cRoger knows my schedule,\u201d she said, looking down. \u201cWhile I\u2019m at work, he pretends to be a realtor and gives people tours of my apartment. He scams couples into paying a security deposit and then disappears. Because I keep my place tidy, it looks unoccupied. I\u2013I only found out recently.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, he\u2019s been using your apartment to con people?\u201d<\/p>\n
Claire nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. \u201cYes. I had no idea he was doing this.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe should call the police,\u201d I suggested. \u201cRoger needs to be stopped, Claire.\u201d<\/p>\n
Claire looked scared. \u201cI don\u2019t know if I can do it. I\u2019m really scared of him.\u201d<\/p>\n
I placed a hand on her shoulder. \u201cYou don\u2019t have to face him alone. I\u2019ll be with you. We can do this together.\u201d<\/p>\n
Claire finally agreed, and we came up with a plan.<\/p>\n
The next day, Claire took a day off work and stayed home. I joined her for support. We waited anxiously, hoping our plan would work. Around noon, we heard the lock turn. Roger walked in with a couple for a fake viewing.<\/p>\n
When he saw us, his eyes went wide with terror. Clearly, he didn\u2019t expect us to be here. \u201cClaire, I\u2026 I can explain,\u201d he began, knowing he was caught red-handed.<\/p>\n
Claire took a deep breath, but I could see her hands shaking. She looked at me for reassurance, and I gave her a nod. \u201cWhat are you doing in my apartment, Roger?\u201d she snapped, her voice wavering slightly. \u201cOh, let me tell you! You\u2019ve been scamming people, showing my apartment as if it\u2019s for rent, right? Give me my key back, now!\u201d<\/p>\n
The couple quickly realized this was not a place they wanted to rent and awkwardly left, whispering to each other.<\/p>\n
An angry woman | Source: Midjourney
\nAn angry woman | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n
Roger, now alone with us, tried to defend himself. \u201cClaire, I didn\u2019t mean any harm. I just needed some money.\u201d<\/p>\n
Claire\u2019s eyes blazed with fury, but her voice still trembled. \u201cI SAID return the key and destroy any copies you made, or else!\u201d<\/p>\n
Roger sneered, \u201cOr what?\u201d<\/p>\n
Claire took a deep breath and pointed at me. I stepped forward, standing tall. \u201cOr my new boyfriend will deal with you!\u201d<\/p>\n
I wasn\u2019t Claire\u2019s boyfriend, but to show Roger she wasn\u2019t alone, I had to play along. \u201cYou heard her, Roger,\u201d I said. \u201cHand over the key.\u201d<\/p>\n
Roger, seeing he was outnumbered and defeated, reluctantly pulled the key from his pocket and handed it to Claire. \u201cFine, here. Just leave me alone.\u201d<\/p>\n
Claire took the key and glared at him. \u201cIf I find out you made any copies, I won\u2019t hesitate to call the police.\u201d<\/p>\n
Roger left, muttering under his breath. The key was finally back in Claire\u2019s hands.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou handled that really well,\u201d I said, turning to face her.<\/p>\n
Claire smiled, relief washing over her face. \u201cThanks, Jack. I couldn\u2019t have done it without you.\u201d<\/p>\n
I hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath. \u201cSo, would you like to go out sometime? I promise, no matter what, I\u2019d never steal your key!\u201d<\/p>\n
Claire laughed, the first genuine laugh I\u2019d heard from her. \u201cI\u2019d like that, Jack. Thank you for everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
A few days later, Claire and I went on our first date at a cozy local caf\u00e9.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know,\u201d I said, chuckling, \u201cI thought you were creepy for waving at me at night with that harsh light illuminating your face.\u201d<\/p>\n
Claire\u2019s eyes widened in surprise. \u201cOh! It must have been the laptop. I use it near the window until late evening, so I always see you coming home. I thought you were cute, so I was happy to wave at you. Gosh, did I really look like a creepy ghost?!\u201d<\/p>\n
I pulled out my phone and showed her a picture I had taken one night. Claire gasped, covering her mouth with her hand. \u201cOh noooo, no wonder you thought I was a ghost! You are so brave for knocking on my window. What if I really turned out to be a ghost?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen, I\u2019d be asking a ghost to join me for coffee,\u201d I said, and we both laughed. \u201cBut on a serious note, I guess it all worked out in the end.\u201d<\/p>\n A couple enjoying each other\u2019s company | Source: Freepik<\/p>\n Claire nodded, her eyes twinkling. \u201cIt did. And I\u2019m glad it did. Here\u2019s to new beginnings.\u201d<\/p>\n What would you have done?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Jack arrives home every night at 2 a.m., exhausted from his late shift. Without fail, he sees a woman standing by her window, waving at him. He… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4909,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4907","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/ezzuye.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/be6cae4746f6fd0ac85f581cc2378b42e32c02fb6270422798cad59b7f6795e6-1024x683.jpg\")