At 3:17 AM, my phone vibrated.
Not rang.
Not buzzed loudly.
Just one soft vibration—enough to wake me, not enough to feel accidental.
I was still half-asleep when I grabbed the phone.
No notifications.
No missed calls.
Just one message.
Unknown Number:
“You shouldn’t be awake right now.”
My heart sped up. I checked the time again.
3:17 AM. Exactly.
I replied without thinking.
Me:
Who is this?
The typing indicator appeared instantly.
Unknown Number:
“You checked your phone at 3:17 last night too.”
I sat up in bed.
That wasn’t possible.
I lived alone.
No one knew my sleep habits.
Me:
That’s not funny.
Three dots.
Stopped.
Then a new message.
Unknown Number:
“Look at your mirror.”
I didn’t move.
My bedroom was dark, except for the phone’s glow.
The mirror stood across the room, barely visible.
I laughed nervously and typed:
Me:
Nice try.
The reply came slower this time.
Unknown Number:
“I’m standing behind you.”
I froze.
Slowly—very slowly—I turned my head.
Nothing.
No one.
Relief washed over me, followed by embarrassment.
I looked back at my phone.
Another message had arrived.
Unknown Number:
“You didn’t turn fast enough.”
My phone slipped from my hand.
As it hit the floor, the screen lit up one last time.
Unknown Number:
“Next time, don’t wake up.”
The clock on my wall clicked.
3:18 AM.
And my phone has never turned on since.