April 21, 2025
by Harper Daniels

The house is silent. The kind of silence that presses on your chest, making it hard to breathe. I can feel the weight of the walls, heavy with history and secrets, pressing in on me. I close my eyes for a moment, shaking away the flood of memories that came rushing in as soon as I stepped inside. It’s too much, too soon.

I’m still getting used to the idea of living here. A place that once felt like a dream is now my reality—an old house that’s more full of dust and decay than anything romantic or nostalgic. The furniture is outdated, the floorboards creak beneath me like they’re whispering, and the air smells faintly of mildew. I don’t even know if the utilities will hold up, but I keep telling myself it’ll be fine. It has to be.

I glance around the living room, scanning the space as my hands instinctively reach out, brushing against the back of the couch. Something in the corner catches my eye—a tall, vintage lamp next to the old rocking chair that faces the window. Without thinking, I rush over to it, my heart racing just a little faster than usual. The tension in the room makes my skin prickle.

Flicking the switch, I hold my breath for a second. The soft click of the lamp turning on feels like a small victory. A warm, buttery light pours out of the shade, casting a gentle glow across the room. It’s a relief. It’s something familiar, something to ground me in this old place that feels so foreign to me right now.

A sigh slips from my lips, more out of instinct than anything. A moment of peace. The light is steady, reassuring. I remember the call I made just a few days ago, the one where I asked the utility company to transfer the services into my name. The house had been empty for a long time before I moved in, and I couldn’t help but wonder if everything would work out. You never can be too sure when dealing with something this old, this unfamiliar.

The flickering lights in my bedroom and the cold spots in the kitchen had me doubting for a while, but now, as I stand in the living room, the lamp softly glowing in the corner, I let myself feel a little bit of relief. The house may be old, and it may have its issues, but it’s mine now. I’ll make it work.

I run a hand over my face, trying to shake off the feeling of unease that still lingers in the back of my mind. This place will feel like home one day, I tell myself. It’s just going to take some time.

But for now, the light from the lamp will have to do. It’s enough to banish the shadows, even if just for a little while.