I woke up from my slumber to the unexpected sound of crows. It was past 5 o'clock. The sun had already begun to set. As I stepped out into the yard, I saw countless crows circling above the northern grove. Unlike usual, I felt something unusual was there. Out of growing curiosity, I hurried towards it.
"Must be a dead dog or something," I told myself.
But when I got closer, I found nothing at all. Only thick shrubs spreading everywhere, waist-high grass, and above me, hundreds of crows circling in the sky. A strange fear began to creep inside me, though I couldn't quite tell why.
Anyway, since I had come all the way, I thought I'd take a photo and post it as a story. Just as I pulled out my phone, I felt a sudden grip on my neck. Fear. In front of me there was nothing but emptiness, yet something held my throat tightly. Panic. It began to lift me up. I struggled, unable to even let out a sound. The deafening cries of the crows pierced my ears. Fear. The sight of them circling above pressed darkness into my eyes.
Suddenly, when I opened my eyes, I was standing in front of Swathi. The college bus stop was completely deserted—just me, her, and the fading daylight. She was saying something to me, but all I could hear was the echo of crows inside my head. I still remember that evening. It was then that I confessed my feelings to her.
Now, here I am again. When I tried to speak to her, the grip on my neck tightened. My voice vanished, breath cut short—I collapsed to the ground, writhing. She stood there, looking straight at me, with no change of expression. That sight terrified me even more. Fear. With every ounce of strength left in me, I screamed.
In an instant, everything turned silent.
When I opened my eyes again, I was sitting on the ground near the grove. No crows above, the sun still setting. Was it all just a dream? Slowly, I got up and walked home, exhausted. Straight to bed I went, with countless questions and doubts swirling in my mind. I still don't know what really happened there. When I touched my neck, a sharp sting spread across it.
And I slowly slipped back into sleep.