stranger

The figure standing before me, born from the very heart of the shadow, felt like both a stranger and someone I had known all my life. Its form shimmered, ethereal, as if it existed in some liminal space between reality and whatever lay beyond. The light that surrounded it pulsed softly, its glow in perfect harmony with the dark forces that swirled around us.

I couldn't look away. My heart pounded in my chest, my breath caught in my throat. Every part of me knew that this moment, this figure, was the key to everything.

"Who are you?" I whispered, my voice barely audible, but it felt like the words resonated in the still air around us.

The figure smiled—a small, gentle smile that seemed both ancient and wise. "I am the other side, Jade. I am what you seek."