The Room That Wasn’t There

When Ethan moved into his new apartment, he wasn’t looking for luxury — only peace.

After his wife’s death, peace was something he didn’t believe existed anymore.

The building was old but quiet, with tall windows and soft gray walls.

The landlord, an elderly woman named Mrs. Green, warned him kindly,

“Don’t open the small room at the end of the corridor. It’s been locked for years.”

Ethan smiled politely. “I’m not curious.”

But deep down, he was.

2. The Whisper

For the first few days, life seemed normal.

Ethan worked during the day, came home, made tea, and sat by the window —

trying to fill the silence that had followed him since Emma died.

But on the seventh night, he woke up to a soft knocking sound.

Tok. Tok. Tok.

He followed the sound down the hallway.

It stopped near the locked door.

When he leaned closer, he heard a whisper —

a voice he could never mistake.

“Ethan… why did you leave me?”

His heart stopped.

It was Emma’s voice.

3. The Dream

The next morning, he convinced himself it was a dream.

He hadn’t been sleeping well; grief plays strange tricks on tired minds.

But that night, it happened again.

Only this time, the door wasn’t locked.

It stood slightly open — a thin strip of light spilling into the corridor.

Inside, the air was cold and smelled faintly of lavender, Emma’s favorite perfume.

In the center of the room was a chair, and on it, something wrapped in white fabric.

He didn’t step closer. He couldn’t.

He whispered, “Emma?”

The cloth moved.

4. The Neighbor

The next day, Ethan asked his neighbor, Mr. Clark, about the room.

The man frowned.

“You mean the small one at the end? You shouldn’t go near it.”

“Why not?” Ethan asked.

Mr. Clark hesitated. “The last tenant… said he heard crying inside that room every night.

He broke the lock once. The next morning, the landlord found him dead.

No wounds, no struggle. Just… gone.”

Ethan’s hands went cold.

He forced a smile and said, “I’m sure it’s just a story.”

But in his heart, he wasn’t sure of anything.

5. The Obsession

Ethan tried to ignore the door. He prayed, kept busy, and avoided walking past it at night.

But grief doesn’t listen to reason — it whispers until you answer.

One evening, while drinking tea, he smelled lavender again.

It was coming from the hallway.

He got up, trembling. The door was half open now.

Inside, a woman’s voice called softly,

“I’m cold, Ethan… please, don’t leave me again.”

His eyes filled with tears.

“Emma…” he whispered, stepping forward.

6. The Room That Wasn’t There

Inside was a bed covered with white sheets, a window slightly open,

and on the wall — a framed photo of their wedding day.

Ethan froze.

That photo had been buried with Emma.

“Emma?” he said, shaking.

A figure stood near the window, wearing her white shawl.

She turned slowly, her eyes full of love — and unbearable sadness.

“You promised we’d stay together forever.”

Ethan’s lips trembled. “I miss you. Every second.”

She smiled faintly.

“Then stay.”

He stepped closer. She opened her arms.

The lights flickered, then went out.

7. The Next Morning

Mrs. Green knocked on his door for rent.

When there was no answer, she opened it with her spare key.

Everything looked normal —

except the small door at the end of the corridor was locked again.

When the police arrived and forced it open,

the room was completely empty.

No bed. No chair. No photo frame.

Just a dusty floor.

And on the wall, written faintly in chalk, were two words:

“He stayed.”