u/Samk915

My alarm went off just like any other weekday morning at seven a.m. I rolled over, my eyes barely even open, to turn off my alarm. I skimmed through my notifications, a few Snapchats from Isabelle, my girlfriend. A couple of texts from the group chat and a voicemail from my number. I rolled back over. Wait a minute… I give my head a little shake, blinking a couple of times. I rolled back over in disbelief that I had a voicemail from myself. Ha, I must’ve called myself in my sleep. I chuckled and clicked the voicemail notification, eager to hear myself snoring or talking in my sleep, maybe.

The voicemail was only ten seconds long. At first, all I heard was heavy breathing and a faint creaking in the background. My smile quickly faded, and I turned up the volume. Then I spoke.
“Listen to me,” I whispered. My words were breathy and shaky. Like I was terrified?
“Don’t fall asleep tonight.” Then the voicemail cut off. I stopped and stared at it for what felt like an eternity, completely forgetting to breathe. My chest aching, my stomach dropped to what could be the floor.

I checked the timestamp 2:57 a.m. My stomach tightened further. I sat up, phone still in hand. I put it down, then picked it back up. Like looking away will make it disappear. I don’t remember getting up? I checked my call log to see if I called anyone else. Nothing was there from last night. No outgoing calls, no incoming calls. Nothing… Just the voicemail from me. I replayed it, again and again.

I sent it to Isabelle, but she didn’t seem too bothered. “Oh, I bet it’s nothing, just a little creepy. Probably just you talking in your sleep and accidentally deleted the log.” I stared at her text. I wanted to believe that, I really did.

I didn’t go to sleep that night. I made a pot of coffee, sat on the couch, and put on a show. Literally anything to keep my mind occupied. Every time my eyes felt heavy, I started walking around my house and took another sip of coffee. Constantly checking my phone like something is gonna change.

Nothing did.

I don’t know when I drifted off. I didn’t mean to. One second the TV was on, next my eyes were opening, and the house was quiet, the TV was off, and my phone was still in my hand, call log still open.

2:55 a.m.

Nothing happened. I sat there for a second. I smiled in relief, the feeling loose and warm. I was about to text Isabelle that she was right and it was going to be a funny story we would tell for years. I was about to type the message when I heard it.

Creaking. Like weight shifting on old floorboards, from the kitchen.

I don’t know why my first instinct was to run to my room. I slammed the door behind me, standing there out of breath. I picked up my phone and called myself. It rang, and rang. Of course, I didn’t answer; I was calling myself.

The line went silent, and I heard “leave a message after the beep.”

My voice came out barely above a whisper.
“Listen to me.” I was terrified, my hands were shaking so bad I could barely hold the phone. I heard another creak now. Even closer. I started to panic.

“Don’t fall asleep tonight!” The line went dead…

I became easier to leave
the moment I started begging people to stay.

That’s what I never understood.

The more I loved,
the less valuable I seemed.
Like devotion turned me into something disposable.