The scene vanished in an instant, sealed away behind the wooden door.
I felt so cold I was shaking and shivering. What I'd just seen seemed like nothing more than an illusion, but the fear it left behind was all too real.
I stood at the doorway for a long time, afraid to push it open and look inside. Part of me desperately wanted to open the door and grab that person. But my body wouldn't move, as if something was stopping me.
After a long while, I finally moved my numb feet and staggered toward home.
It felt as though I'd been walking for years.
The scenery around me changed again and again, and I felt my body changing, too. An arm was linked through mine.
I led the young woman into the apartment building and saw the faded marks left by small ads on the wall.
Her high heels clacked against the wooden stairs. The old staircase seemed to sway beneath us.
I couldn't remember when the stairs had gotten so worn.
They didn't seem this dilapidated before...
As I wondered about it, we reached my door.
I took out my key and unlocked it. From inside, I heard a child cheering.
"Uncle!" A small figure rushed into me and wrapped his arms around my leg.
I leaned back slightly and bumped into the woman whose arm I was holding.
"Don't run around! Look at you!" someone scolded from inside. A woman came out, glanced apologetically at the young woman behind me, then broke into a warm smile. "You must be Miss He. Come in, come in! This little rascal loves his uncle more than anyone."
Miss He chuckled. "A-Jie has always been popular with children."
"That's true. He likes them, too. Oh, you didn't have to bring