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The original was posted on /r/nosleep by /u/HerScreams on 2024-10-07 15:41:06+00:00.

I had been working late again, something I’d grown used to over the past few months. Chicago never truly sleeps, and it was common to see people still moving around the streets, even as the clock ticked past midnight. My apartment was just a few blocks away, and I’d made this walk home more times than I could count. The night was cool, the streetlights buzzing softly overhead as I made my way down the familiar route.

There wasn’t much traffic, which was typical for this time of night. The occasional car would pass, and sometimes I could hear the distant hum of the L train. I checked my phone out of habit, scrolling through notifications without really paying attention to them. A message from a friend asking about plans for the weekend, a reminder about a bill due tomorrow . Just the usual.

As I approached my building, I noticed Tom, my neighbor, outside by the garbage bins. He had a cigarette between his fingers, the glow lighting up his face briefly as he nodded in my direction.

“Burning the midnight oil again?” he asked.

“Yeah, work’s been crazy lately,” I replied, pausing for a moment before heading toward the door. “You?”

“Couldn’t sleep,” he said, shrugging. “Figured I’d step out for a bit.”

I nodded, pushing the front door open. “See you around.”

“Take it easy,” Tom replied before I disappeared inside.

The elevator was sluggish as usual, and I found myself staring at the scratched-up panel of buttons. I lived on the fourth floor, and as the elevator crept upward, I glanced back at my phone. More notifications, more things to deal with tomorrow.

When the elevator doors finally opened, I stepped into the quiet hallway. My apartment was at the far end, and I could see a faint light coming from under my door .  I must have left the lamp on when I left earlier. Not unusual. I always forgot little things like that.

But when I reached my door, something caught my attention. The door wasn’t closed all the way. It was barely noticeable, just a fraction of an inch, but it was enough to make me stop. I didn’t remember leaving it like that. I stood there for a moment, staring at the door, my hand hovering just above the knob.

I reached for the door, but as I grasped the knob, I froze. The door was unlocked. I was sure I had locked it before leaving, as I always did. I stood there, staring at the knob, trying to make sense of it. Maybe I had been in such a hurry earlier that I forgot. But no, I distinctly remembered the click of the lock as I left.

A knot tightened in my stomach as I pushed the door open. The apartment was quiet, everything seemingly in its place. The small lamp in the living room cast a soft glow, illuminating the familiar surroundings. I stepped inside and locked the door behind me, twisting the lock back and forth as if to reassure myself that it was working properly.

I walked into the living room, tossing my keys onto the counter, and that’s when I saw it. Lying on the coffee table, where nothing had been earlier, was a photograph. My breath caught in my throat. I didn’t remember leaving it there, and more importantly, I didn’t own any printed photos.

I stepped closer, my heart thudding in my chest. The photo was of me. Taken earlier today, on my walk from work. I recognized the street, the same one I had walked down just hours ago. My hand trembled as I picked it up, flipping it over to see if there was anything written on the back. There wasn’t.

Whoever took this photo had been watching me. They had followed me, and now they had been inside my apartment.

I felt a rush of adrenaline, my mind racing with questions. How did they get in? Had I really left the door unlocked? I didn’t think so. I quickly scanned the room again, looking for anything else that might have been moved, but everything seemed in place. I checked the windows, but they were locked too.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed in my pocket, startling me. I pulled it out, half expecting to see a message from the stalker, but it was just Tom, my neighbor.

“Hey, you okay? You looked kind of off earlier,” his message read.

I stared at the screen, my thoughts too scattered to reply right away. Tom had been outside when I came home. Could he have noticed something? Should I tell him about the photo?

I hesitated for a moment, staring at Tom’s message. Should I tell him about the photo? Part of me wanted to confide in someone, but another part felt like I needed to keep it to myself, at least for now. I didn’t know what I was dealing with, and jumping to conclusions didn’t feel right.

After a long pause, I typed out a quick reply: “Yeah, just a rough day at work. Thanks for checking in.”

I put my phone down, running my hand through my hair as I tried to steady my breathing. The photo still sat on the table, taunting me. My mind raced, thinking through all the possibilities. Who had taken it? Why leave it here? How did they get in?

Trying to distract myself, I turned on the TV, hoping that some background noise would help calm my nerves. But I couldn’t focus. My thoughts kept circling back to the unlocked door and the photo. It was almost like someone wanted me to know I was being watched . Someone who knew I’d come home tonight and find their little message.

I stood up and walked around the apartment, checking the windows again, though I knew they were already locked. My eyes wandered over every corner of the room, looking for anything else out of place. Nothing. Just that photo.

The buzz of my phone startled me again. Another message from Tom.

“If you need anything, let me know. I’m up for a while.”

I stared at the message, feeling uneasy. Tom had always been friendly, but now it seemed like he was paying extra attention. I hadn’t noticed it before, but maybe I had never looked for it. Was I overthinking things? Or was it just a coincidence that he was always nearby, always checking in at the right time?

I didn’t respond to his message. Instead, I paced the room, glancing at the clock. It was past midnight now, and sleep felt impossible. My mind kept going over the day, trying to remember if I had seen anyone suspicious, anyone who might have followed me.

Suddenly, a soft knock came at the door.

The knock at the door sent a jolt through my body. I wasn’t expecting anyone at this hour. I hesitated, my heart pounding in my chest as I tiptoed toward the peephole. It was Tom, standing there with his hands in his pockets, looking casual. For a brief second, I felt relieved. Then, I remembered the photo on the coffee table and the unlocked door. My nerves tightened again.

I opened the door just a crack, trying to keep my voice steady. “Hey, what’s up?”

Tom smiled, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Sorry to bother you. I thought I heard something strange, like someone messing with your door earlier. Just wanted to check in, make sure you’re okay.”

I blinked, trying to process what he was saying. “You heard someone?”

“Yeah, probably just some drunk or something, but it didn’t seem right,” Tom continued, his eyes flicking past me into the apartment. “Thought I’d make sure everything was cool.”

My hand gripped the edge of the door tighter. I wasn’t sure what to make of this. Tom had always been friendly, but the timing of his concern felt off. And if he had really heard something, why hadn’t he called me or knocked earlier?

“I’m fine,” I said quickly, trying to close the door a bit more. “Thanks for checking in.”

Tom’s smile faltered just a bit. “Okay, well… just let me know if you need anything.”

I nodded, forcing a smile before closing the door fully and locking it. As soon as I was alone again, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. Something about the whole situation didn’t sit right with me. I glanced back at the photo on the table, the reminder of someone having been inside, watching me.

My phone buzzed again, and I nearly jumped. Another message from Tom.

“Sorry if I freaked you out. Just being a good neighbor.”

I stared at the message, feeling my skin crawl. He was being too attentive, too involved. It was hard not to connect the dots. First the unlocked door, then the photo, and now Tom always seeming to be around at the perfect moment. I couldn’t shake the feeling that he knew more than he was letting on.

I decided I needed to talk to someone, so I called my friend Sarah. As the phone rang, I paced around the living room, my mind still racing. When she finally answered, her voice was groggy.

“Hey… everything okay?” she asked, clearly half-asleep.

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “Something weird’s been happening. Someone was in my apartment earlier, I think. They left a photo of me from today.”

There was a pause on the other end before Sarah spoke again. “That’s creepy. Did you call the police?”

“I’m not sure what to tell them… and I…” I stopped mid-sentence, glancing at the coffee table again, where the photo still sat. It felt like it was staring back at me, an eerie reminder that someone had been close enough to take it. “I don’t even know what to say. What if they think I’m just overreacting?”

Sarah’s voice grew more alert. “You’re not overreacting. Someone took a photo of you and left it in your apartment. That’s serious. You need to call them.”

I bit my lip, considering it. “Maybe you’re right. But… it’s just so bizarre. And Tom keeps checking on me. It’s like he knows something, but I don’t know if I’m being paranoid.”

“Wait, Tom?” Sarah asked, confused. “Your neighbor?..

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