This sounds like the beginning of a gripping thriller or a creepy short story!

Would you like us to continue this story together, or would you like to tell me what actually happened to you (or what you imagined)?

If this is meant to be the beginning of a story, here are a few possibilities for what “detail” it might have been. Which one appeals to you most?

The key: The lock turned too easily—it wasn’t locked, even though you were absolutely sure it was.

The air: A cold breeze hit you when you opened the door; a window you never use was wide open.

The shadow: On the dresser in the hallway lay an object that definitely wasn’t yours—fogged-up glasses, someone else’s watch, or a still-steaming mug of tea.

The silence: The steady ticking of the wall clock, which usually greeted you, had fallen silent. The hands pointed to the exact minute you had left the house.

How does your story continue?