Pāhonoa te oro

I shook my head. “I didn’t.” My voice was barely a whisper. But it smiled wider. “Yes, you did.” Its head straightened. And for the first time… It took a step forward. I stepped back instantly. But there was nowhere to go. It moved again. Slow. Calm. Like it knew I couldn’t escape. “Everyone opens it eventually.” My phone buzzed again. I didn’t want to look. But I did. Another message. From my number. “You shouldn’t have looked.” When I looked back up— It was gone. Complet