The next day at work, the hospital was its usual mix of bustling activity and urgent care. Crista tried to stay focused on her tasks, but her mind kept wandering back to the figure she had seen. 

Lisa was in high spirits, chatting about plans for the weekend and the café they had visited. 

“Can you believe how delicious those éclairs were?” Lisa said, grinning as she organized some files at the nurses’ station.

Crista gave a distracted smile. “Yeah, they were really good.”

Lisa continued enthusiastically. “I’m definitely going back there soon. Maybe we can make it a regular thing.”

Crista nodded, though her thoughts were elsewhere. “Sounds good.”

Lisa picked up on Crista’s lack of enthusiasm. “You’re really quiet today. Something on your mind?”

Crista hesitated before shrugging. “Just a bit tired, I guess. Didn’t sleep too well.”

Lisa raised an eyebrow. “Oh? You didn’t mention anything about being up all night. Was something wrong?”

Crista shook her head. “No, it was just one of those nights. Nothing to worry about.”

Lisa looked concerned but decided not to press further. “Well, if you need to talk, I’m here.”

Crista gave her a grateful smile. “Thanks, Lisa. I appreciate it.”

The day dragged on, and as the hours passed, the sense of unease that had started the night before seemed to intensify. Every shadow, every creak of the hospital seemed to amplify her anxiety.

Finally, their shift ended, and Crista and Lisa headed out to the café. The streets were cool and quiet as they walked, and the familiar surroundings did little to ease Crista’s nerves.

When they arrived at the café, it was just as cozy as before. The smell of pastries and the warmth of the place offered a brief respite from her anxiety.

They settled at a table by the window, and Lisa immediately started up about their plans.

“So, I was thinking of taking a short trip next month. Maybe up to the mountains for a weekend getaway. What do you think?” Lisa asked, excitedly scrolling through potential itineraries on her phone.

Crista was only half-listening, her eyes occasionally glancing out the window. “That sounds nice. I could use a break from the city.”

Lisa looked up, noticing Crista’s distracted demeanor. “You sure you’re alright? You seem a bit off.”

Crista forced a smile. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just a bit preoccupied, I guess.”

Lisa nodded, but she didn’t look entirely convinced. “Well, if you ever want to talk, you know where to find me.”

“Thanks, Lisa. I’ll keep that in mind,” Crista said as she took a sip of her coffee.

They chatted for a while, and as the conversation flowed, Crista found herself relaxing a little. The warmth of the café and the pleasant company were a welcome distraction from her worries.

But as they finished up their pastries, Crista’s eyes drifted to the street outside. Her stomach tightened as she saw the same figure from the previous night standing across the street, partially obscured by the shadows of the buildings.

She tried to focus on Lisa, but her thoughts were consumed by the figure.

Lisa noticed Crista’s distraction and followed her gaze. “What’s wrong? Do you see something?”

Crista shook her head quickly. “No, it’s nothing. I was just looking at the street.”

Lisa gave her a curious look but seemed to accept the answer. “Okay. Are you ready to head back?”

Crista nodded, trying to hide her anxiety. “Yeah, let’s go.”

They walked back towards the bus stop, the figure still standing silently in the shadows. Crista’s heart pounded, but she tried to act normal.

As they reached the bus stop, Lisa glanced around. “It’s getting pretty quiet out here. I hope nothing’s going on.”

Crista forced a smile. “Yeah, it’s probably just the time of day. It’s always like this before the evening rush.”

Lisa didn’t seem entirely reassured but didn’t press the issue. “Well, I’m sure we’ll be fine. The bus should be here soon.”

The bus arrived, and they got on, the ride to Crista’s apartment passing in relative silence. Crista kept glancing out the window, but the figure was nowhere to be seen.

When they reached Crista’s apartment building, she turned to Lisa. “Thanks for hanging out today. I really needed the distraction.”

Lisa smiled. “Anytime. I hope things settle down for you soon.”

Crista nodded, watching as Lisa’s bus pulled away. She took a deep breath, trying to shake off the lingering sense of unease.

Inside her apartment, she went through her evening routine, trying to distract herself with a book and a light dinner. But her thoughts kept drifting back to the figure she had seen.

As she lay in bed, the night was eerily quiet. The sense of being watched returned, stronger than before. Every creak of the building and every shadow seemed to heighten her anxiety.

A knock on the door startled her. She sat up, her heart racing.

“Who could that be?” she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.

She approached the door cautiously and peeked through the peephole. There was no one there.

She opened the door slowly, looking around the empty hallway. 

“Hello?” she called out, but there was no answer.

She closed the door, feeling a chill run down her spine. The feeling of being watched was almost palpable now.

As she climbed back into bed, she pulled the covers tightly around her and tried to push the thoughts from her mind. 

“Just my imagination,” she told herself. “Everything’s fine.”

But the silence of the night was heavy.