The house was unusually quiet when Vera arrived home. Her grandmother, Doña Emilia, greeted her warmly and made her favorite hot chocolate. But Vera felt uneasy—something in the house seemed off.
When she went to check on Xolotl, her brother, she found the door locked. Inside, everything was a mess, and he looked terrified, as if he hadn’t slept for days. He insisted someone had been in his room at night and that “they” wanted him. His words made no sense, and a chill ran down Vera’s spine.
Their grandmother tried to calm the situation, asking him if he’d taken his medication, but Xolotl suddenly pointed at Vera with trembling hands, claiming she wasn’t really there. He began to scream repeatedly that she didn’t exist. Out of fear, Vera fled the room, covering her ears, her heart pounding.
When the house finally fell silent, she returned. Xolotl lay asleep, exhausted. Doña Emilia and Vera cleaned up quietly while the sound of tortillas cooking filled the kitchen. For a moment, the house felt peaceful again.
Later, while washing dishes, Vera noticed her hand disappearing—as if she were fading away.
