When people think of ghosts, their reactions are usually predictable: fear, avoidance, maybe even a touch of anxiety. But not you. You’ve always been fascinated by the idea, drawn to the mystery of it all. You’ve spent countless hours speculating, imagining, and perhaps even longing for the unknown to feel closer.

Maybe that curiosity, that obsession, eventually brought something real into your life.

Adopting Evie, a bright and bubbly seven-year-old, was the best decision you ever made. She transformed your dark and lonely existence into something pure and beautiful. Your mornings now begin with her laughter echoing through the house, and your evenings are filled with warm hugs and cozy moments together.

Providing a safe, happy life for her became your top priority. That’s why you surprised her with a house by the lake. Far from the noise of the city, it was meant to be a peaceful escape, a perfect haven just for the two of you.

One warm summer afternoon, while you were tending to the garden, you noticed something peculiar. Evie’s laughter carried through the air, but it wasn’t her usual giggle. It sounded… different, as if she were talking to someone.

Confused, you wiped your hands on your jeans and made your way inside. The living room was still cluttered with stacks of moving boxes. There, on the plush carpet surrounded by toys, sat Evie. She clutched a doll in one hand, her other hand gesturing animatedly as if sharing a joke.

But it was who—or what—was crouched in front of her that stopped you cold.

A man knelt on the carpet, his smile warm and his gaze gentle. His presence filled the room with an unnatural chill that crept over your skin. You blinked, trying to make sense of what you were seeing. His figure flickered faintly, his edges blurring in and out like an old, distorted photograph.

“You’re one silly thing, aren’t you?” he said in a deep, soothing voice. If it weren’t for the sound of those words, grounding you in reality, you might’ve convinced yourself it wasn’t real.

But it was. A ghost.