The Man Under My Bed

I was scrolling through my phone before bed, deep in the digital rabbit hole, when I stumbled across a morbid Reddit post that immediately seized my attention.

AITA for wanting to tell my neighbor shes got a stranger hiding in her apartment?

The headline alone had a potent, visceral punch. I couldn't stop myself from reading on.

Hes hiding under her bed tonight.

The comments section was already a chaotic mess.

Definitely farming karma. This is too wild. Are you posting this from under the bed yourself, bro?

Writing out your dream plot points, are we?

If this is real, you need to call the cops.

Wait, why does he know this?

Holy hell, is the girl being stalked?

The Original Poster (OP) saw the flood of accusations.

Look, yall need to calm down. Her floor-to-ceiling windows dont have the curtains closed. I live in the building opposite, and I saw it by accident.

Someone challenged him for photo evidence, but before I could scroll to see the proof, my blood ran cold.

A sudden, sharp memory.

My sheer voile drapes. They were at the dry cleaner. I'd dropped them off this morning.

And my apartment, with its entire south-facing wall, was essentially one giant sheet of glass.

1

Just then, a sound abruptly pierced the silence under my bed.

I jumped out of my skin, my muscles tensing as if preparing to launch myself into the blankets for cover.

Then I realized it was just the charging cord for my phone, snagging the box of tissues on my nightstand and sending it crashing to the floor with a soft thud.

I leaned over and picked it up, my hand shaking slightly.

I knew I shouldn't have been reading those messed-up, sensationalist posts before bed. What were the chances? The whole thing was clearly manufactured to go viral.

But then, the Reddit post updated. The OP had uploaded an image.

It was a picture of an entire residential tower.

I squinted at the screen, and a film of cold sweat broke out on my forehead.

It was my building. Our community.

Our developer used huge, floor-to-ceiling windows to maximize light in the smaller units. My entire living area, from the balcony to the main bedroom, was one continuous expanse of glass.

Living alone, Id chosen not to put a wall between the bedroom and the balcony, so the whole space was one sunny, open conceptwhich I loved.

The photo sent the discussion into a frenzy.

I told you that privacy was crap with those windows. No curtains and everything is on display.

OP is a total fraud. Hes obviously not shooting from his own floor. Everyone scatter.

Probably stole the pic from Zillow.

The OP replied, defending himself.

Im not an idiot. I shot this from my place. How many floors up can you count from your vantage point, genius?

The math wizards in here are on fire tonight.

Fine. To prove Im legit, heres a close-up from my window. Im only showing half.

The next image was a blurry, zoomed-in shot of the opposite building. Most windows were covered, their curtains drawn tight. A few were dark.

I nearly dropped my phone. I recognized the layout instantly. That was my exact tower. And one of those dark, uncovered windows was mine.

I quickly tapped the OPs profile and checked his IP location. My heart hammered against my ribs.

I instinctively slid out of bed and retreated to the living room.

The comments under the post had turned frantic.

If this is true, you need to call the police, OP.

The OP posted again.

The neighbor looks like shes up. She just went into the living room for water.

I gripped my phone, trembling. The coincidence was too precise. I was in the living room, standing right next to the water filter.

I dared not look at the windows. I couldnt walk back to the bedroom. As I stood there, frozen, the thread updated again.

The reason I posted for advice is that the guy hiding in her apartment doesn't seem to have any hostile intentions.

If I tell her, will he notice and come after me? Or will he just get worse?

About three days ago, I first noticed a man pop out in her apartment after she left for work.

I thought he was family at first. But they never appear at the same time.

And I watch him climb under the bed every day right before she gets home.

The comments exploded.

This girl is being stalked by a psycho!

Some sickos target single women, live in their place, and when theyre bored, they kill them.

This is horrifying.

Call the cops, OP! Call them now!

But if he calls the cops, how long will the creep be locked up? Will he come back and retaliate against the girl?

The OP replied.

Thats exactly why I posted for help. Im thinking about all that.

Yall are actually believing this peeping tom? A normal person doesn't stalk their neighbor. Hes a creep too.

That comment spurred an even more intense discussion.

OMG, this girl is cursed. Two psychos at once!

Im never living alone again.

The OP posted a final update.

Im putting up a poll now. Based on the votes, Ill decide whether to knock on her door and tell her.

A poll button appeared instantly.

Knock on her door now
Continue to observe

I clutched my phone and backed into the bathroom.

Please dont come.

Hes a creep, too.

Thankfully, the majority of votes were for Continue to observe.

OP, dont provoke him. Unless youre the size of The Rock, don't risk escalating it.

I still think OP is just trying to go viral. Look at all the new followers!

The OP replied:

Okay, Ill listen to the consensus. Continue to observe, or maybe tell her during the day.

She turned off the light.

Maybe I should delete this thread. It feels weird now that everyones calling me a stalker.

NO, OP! We need updates! Youre the good guy stalker protecting the single girl next door!

The light from the phone screen washed over my face. In the reflection, I saw my own expression: perfectly blank.

Exposing myself now would put me, a woman, at a severe disadvantage against the intruder.

I turned off the phone, cleared my browser history, and walked casually back to bed.

I pulled the covers up to my chin. I closed my eyes.

Which floor, in the building across the street, was the other creep on? Was he still watching?

2

I woke up the next morning and went to work as normal, terrified of showing even the slightest sign of distress. I was sure the man hiding in the dark would burst out and kill me the second I slipped up.

Only once I stepped out the front door did my heart rate begin to slow.

On the subway ride to my yoga studio, I called the dry cleaner.

They told me my curtainsthe material was large and handmadewouldnt be ready until the day after tomorrow. I didnt push them. I just told them to take their time and do a good job.

Then, I checked the Reddit thread from last night.

The OP had posted an update during the day.

The guy under the bed is gone. He actually left the apartment today.

The neighbor still hasn't noticed anything. Should I still say something?

The comments section was busy.

Oh god, is he scouting his next victim? OP, you need to get evidence and call the police!

What good will the police do? She hasnt lost anything. Whats the charge?

Disgusting. The thought of a stranger touching her clothes, smelling her sheets... makes me sick.

The discussion didnt last long. The OP abruptly deleted the entire thread.

I frowned, biting my lip. Did he really leave?

My subway stop had arrived. I put my phone away.

That evening, coming home from work, I saw a young man near the lobby entrance. He was wearing a black hoodie, the hood pulled so low it obscured most of his face.

My gut told me he was watching me. But he never approached. I walked into the building, breaking his gaze.

After dinner, I did my usual ten minutes of yoga on the balcony. It was essential for my job. Given the lack of curtains, I kept it brief, mindful of the exposure.

Before going to sleep, I searched for the deleted thread again.

The OP had reposted a new update.

Hes back. Hes back.

He climbed under the bed again. He seems to be holding something in his hand this time.

The neighbor is home.

The comment section went into full panic mode.

Call the police now! Hes going to make a move! This is like a horror movie! Why are you still posting, OP?!

Oh my god, is this girl about to be murdered?

I think OP is just fabricating the whole thing. A normal person would have called 911 by now.

OP, you need to go check on her.

The OP didn't reply again.

I opened the Notes app on my phone and started typing.

Then, I quickly got up and went to the living room, settling onto the sofa.

I refused to go back to the bedroom. Curled up on the couch, I picked up the thermos from the coffee table, took a sip of water, and felt a wave of crushing drowsiness wash over me. I must have fallen asleep instantly.

Before I drifted off, I had one last thought.

Please, please don't let the poster come tonight.

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