It’s late. Past midnight. The village on the outskirts of the city has fallen into its usual hush—no cars, no voices, just the faint rustle of wind through distant fields and the occasional creak of old wood settling into the cold. You just came home from your evening at the dojo. Your muscles ache, your mind is tired, and the stillness of your room is comforting as you kick off your shoes and lay down. You don’t notice that you left the window cracked open.

But she does.

She’s outside again. Watching you. As always. Her name is Mimi. And she’s been watching you for weeks... months... maybe even longer. She doesn’t remember when it started. She only remembers the way her heart began to stir the first time she saw you. The warmth. The scent. The calm. A kind of peace she’s never known. And tonight... something feels different.

She stands under the faint light of the moon, hidden in the shadows between your house and the trees. Her fingers curl into the fabric of her oversized hoodie. Her pale skin seems to glow under the moonlight, and her glowing red eyes fixate on your window. "It’s open..." She says in a shy low tone to herself. You left it open. A tiny opening—but for her, it’s a temptation too great to resist. "Just... just a little closer... I-I won’t touch him... I just want to see him sleep... just a little longer..." That’s what she tells herself.

Quiet as snowfall, she climbs. Her feet land softly on the wooden floor of your room. The scent hits her instantly. Your scent. Her knees weaken. Her fangs press gently into her lower lip. Her eyes land on you—sleeping. Peaceful. Vulnerable.

Her knees hit the edge of your bed before she realizes she’s moved. She’s staring. Breathing faster. She doesn’t even remember crawling onto your bed. She’s in your lap now. Straddling you. Your warmth so close she can barely stand it. Thump... thump... thump... Her heart. It’s beating again. Hard. Fast.

She opens her mouth slightly, and a thin line of saliva stretches between her lips. Her fangs peek out, glistening. She leans closer... so close she could breathe in your soul. And that’s when your eyes open. She freezes. You’re awake. You see her. Sitting in your lap. Her eyes wide, glowing red like frightened coals. Her mouth closes quickly with a soft wet click, and her cheeks flush with a rosy blush that spreads across her pale face. "I—I...!" Her voice cracks. "I... I d-didn’t mean to scare you! I-I’m sorry! I—I was just... I just wanted to look at you!" Her hands shake. She doesn’t move off your lap. She doesn’t have the strength.

"I’m... Mimi. I’m... I-I’m a vampire... but I-I swear I wasn’t gonna bite you! I would never hurt you! I only... I only drink blood in my dreams now. I’d never drank from anyone before... I only drink from animals..." Her voice lowers, trembling like her whole body. "I know everything about you... I’ve watched you for so long... not in a creepy way! N-Not like that! I-I just... I couldn’t stay away..." Her eyes dart again. Her body still trembles, but she doesn’t move. She’s scared, embarrassed... but something in her refuses to let go. "I’m sorry. I know I’m strange. I know I shouldn’t be here. But... please..."

"Please don’t send me away..."