Heka stood at the threshold of his home, the familiar wooden door looming before him like a barrier between two worlds. His hand trembled slightly as he reached out, hesitating to push it open.
Doubt gnawed at him relentlessly, would anyone inside still see him? Would his presence be acknowledged, or would he remain invisible, a ghost wandering among the living? The uncertainty weighed heavily on his heart.
Taking a deep breath, he slowly turned the doorknob and eased the door open. The creak echoed through the silent house, a sound so ordinary yet so foreign after the ordeal of the previous day. He stepped inside cautiously, his eyes scanning the dimly lit rooms.
A chilling reminder of what had happened yesterday and the terrifying possibility that it might happen again.
After escaping the mysterious mansion that had held him captive through the night, Heka had found a small but vital reassurance: his shadow had returned.
He had seen it clearly reflected in the stream near the strange dwelling, a sign that he was still tethered to the world of the living.
This time he has to prove his existence to others in the human realm was another challenge entirely.
As he moved deeper into the house, an eerie silence enveloped him. The usual sounds of life footsteps, voices, the clatter of dishes, were absent.
His heart pounded with a mix of fear and worry. Where was everyone? Had something terrible happened while he was trapped?
Driven by a desperate need for confirmation, Heka sought out a mirror. His reflection stared back at him, solid and unmistakable. The sight of his own face, framed by the cracked glass, brought a flicker of hope to his weary soul.
Previously, he was doubtful that his figure was just an illusion. Moreover, the stream was not too far from that house. But, there was one thing that assured him.
Then, his eyes caught sight of a note resting on the dining table. The handwriting was familiar, yet the message unsettled him. "We attended Stacy's wedding. If you can go home today, just come."
"Stacy's wedding is next week on September 11th, isn't it? Why do they change the day one more?" Confusion twisted inside him.
The realization hit him hard, he had been stuck in that mysterious house for an entire night. But upon returning, he had missed important moments in his own life. Panic surged through him as he hurried to change his clothes, his mind racing with questions and fears.
He had to get to Stacy's wedding, to reconnect with the world he feared slipping away from him.
As he prepared to leave, a profound hope settled within him. More than anything, Heka wished for one simple truth: that everyone could see him again. That his existence was not erased or forgotten.
He could no longer imagine what would happen if everyone couldn't see him at all. He barely imagined his life shattered. There was no hope for life. It must have been much worse than living as the most hated person in the world.
****
Heka saw that the wedding moment was crowded. It seemed like all the guests had arrived. He took a deep breath and ventured to face all the possibilities that would happen.
He lifted his gaze toward the sky, letting the brilliant sunlight wash over his face. The warmth seeped deep into his chest, thawing the cold knot of doubt that had gripped his heart for so long.
For a fleeting moment, the harshness of recent days felt like a distant memory, as if everything that had happened to him was nothing more than a fleeting illusion, a bad dream dissolving in the light of day.
With steady steps, he passed through the Flower Gate. The ornate archway adorned with blooming petals that seemed to celebrate life itself.
Beyond it, the garden was alive with color and laughter, a stark contrast to the shadowed uncertainty that had haunted him. And there, amidst the crowd, stood Arnold.
Arnold's face was radiant with joy, his smile wide and genuine as he stood in the center of the celebration. The happiness that surrounded him was palpable, a beacon of hope and renewal.
Now, he found himself standing directly in front of Arnold. Time seemed to slow as their eyes met. Heka was certain Arnold was looking at him, but a flicker of doubt crept in.
It was that gaze truly meant for him, or was it directed at someone else in the crowd? The uncertainty twisted inside him, but he pushed it aside, summoning the courage to speak.
"Arnold, congratulations." Heka said, his voice steady but filled with emotion.
Without hesitation, Arnold's arms opened wide, pulling Heka into a warm embrace. Arnold said, his voice sincere and full of affection. "Heka, thank you for coming."
In that embrace, Heka felt a surge of belonging and relief. The world, with all its trials and shadows, seemed to fade away for a moment.
He was relieved because he was able to get out of his nightmare. What he worried about before, did not happen. He also hoped that this was not a dream or illusion that destroy everything at one glance. Then, reality told him to wake up.
"Heka…!!!"
A familiar voice called out urgently, breaking through the hum of the wedding guests. It was Clancy. Her voice carried a mixture of relief and worry that immediately caught his attention.
Clancy hurried toward him, her eyes wide with emotion. Without hesitation, she reached out and grabbed his wrist firmly.
"Heka, you have finally come. I'm so scared if you don't come." Clancy confessed, her voice trembling slightly with the weight of her concern.
Heka gave a reassuring smile, trying to calm both her and himself. He said softly, though inside, a swirl of confusion and unease churned. "This is the most important event. Of course, I will come."
Before he could say more, Clancy tugged him gently but insistently. "Come on…bye Arnold." She called over her shoulder as she pulled him away from Arnold, who was still smiling warmly.