Maggie didn’t think much of it when a kind stranger helped her load groceries into her car. However, she started seeing him everywhere—outside her café, near her bookstore, even outside her gym.
At first, she dismissed it as coincidence, but the unsettling feeling grew stronger. Whenever she tried to capture his presence, something always interfered, making her question reality. Then, one evening at a café, she pointed him out to a woman sitting nearby—only to realize that no one else could see him.
Desperate for answers, Maggie confided in her best friend, Elaine, who urged her to get proof. They checked Elaine’s store security footage, but the man was nowhere to be seen. Shaken but still determined, Maggie went back to the supermarket where they first met and reviewed security footage there as well. Once again, the footage showed her talking to someone who wasn’t there. It was then that the horrifying truth hit her—the man had never been real.
Maggie struggled to accept what was happening to her. Elaine, deeply concerned, insisted she seek professional help. Though hesitant, Maggie finally agreed and visited a therapist, Dr. Levin. After hearing her story, he diagnosed her with prolonged grief disorder. He explained that her mind had likely created the man as a coping mechanism, filling the void left by her late husband, Michael, who used to help her with groceries. The realization was both painful and eye-opening.
With therapy, Maggie began to process her grief rather than suppress it. She spoke openly about Michael for the first time in years and slowly came to terms with his absence. Throughout the process, Elaine remained by her side, offering unwavering support. As Maggie confronted her emotions, something remarkable happened—the mysterious man stopped appearing. It was as if, by accepting her loss, she had finally let go of the illusion.
In time, Maggie found herself feeling lighter, no longer burdened by the haunting presence of someone who never truly existed. She learned just how powerful grief could be, capable of shaping reality in unimaginable ways. Most importantly, she realized that she wasn’t alone—Elaine had been her anchor through it all. And for that, she would always be grateful.
