It was a regular day when I had just wrapped up another Zoom call while working from home. I was heading to the kitchen to make myself a cup of coffee when a loud thud made me stop in my tracks. Someone had thrown a plush owl at my window with an unexpected message inside.
I always thought I was living the perfect life most American women dream of. I had an understanding boyfriend, loving parents, a well-paying job, my own house, and the ability to buy anything I wanted.
A woman looking outside a window | Source: Midjourney
What’s the worst that could happen to me? I thought while living in my bubble. I got my answer the day someone threw a plush owl at my window. Life hasn’t been the same since.
Before I share what happened that morning, let me tell you a bit about my life.
My name is Norma, and I think I’m one of those blessed people who always knew what they wanted to do. Growing up, I was fascinated by how the human brain worked, which is one of the reasons I became a psychologist.
A woman talking to her therapist | Source: Pexels
It’s been a few years now since I started seeing patients, and I love my job. I’ve been mostly working from home these days because I needed some time to clean up the cupboards and cabinets at home. Cleaning is therapeutic, isn’t it?
Anyway, I bought my house a year ago, and my boyfriend, Alex, moved in soon after. Alex and I have been together for two years, and being with him taught me what love really means.
A couple holding hands | Source: Pexels
Alex is the best boyfriend a girl could ask for. He’s thoughtful, and caring, and always puts our relationship first. Whether it’s surprising me with my favorite takeout after a long day or just listening when I need to vent about a difficult patient, he’s always there for me.
He works at a bank downtown, which means he never works from home. So, the house is all mine on days I’m working remotely. It’s nice to have that quiet time, but I always look forward to him coming home.
A woman working on her laptop | Source: Pexels
So, the day that changed my life started like any other.
I woke up early, made breakfast for Alex and myself, and kissed him goodbye as he left for work. Once he left, I sat down at the dining table with my laptop and looked over my schedule.
It’s gonna be a long, long day, I thought as I dove right in.
I spent the morning consulting patients over Zoom and attending virtual meetings. Around 1 p.m., I decided to take a break.
A woman working from home | Source: Pexels
I stood up, stretched my arms above my head, and started towards the kitchen to make a cup of coffee. That’s when I heard a loud thud against the living room window that made me freeze mid-step.
My heart skipped a beat.
What was that? I thought.
After a few deep breaths, I rationalized it must be the neighborhood kids playing. Maybe a stray ball or frisbee. Still, I felt a little uneasy as I walked over to investigate.
A woman looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney
My eyes widened as I opened the window and saw a stuffed owl lying there on the floor. Someone had thrown a plush owl on my window.
What the heck? I thought as I picked it up.
My first instinct was that it was a prank. Maybe the kids were trying to be cute or something. But then I glanced out the window again, and that’s when things got really strange.
A woman looking outside her living room window | Source: Midjourney
There were no kids. Instead, I saw this woman speeding away from my house. She looked like she was in her thirties, and was dressed in all black.
“Hey!” I called out.
The woman looked back, but she wasn’t someone I knew. She had this glint in her eyes that told me something was not right.
As a psychologist, I had seen so many people in my life, and the look on this woman’s face told me she needed help.
But before I could say anything more, she ran away and vanished around the corner.
A woman running away | Source: Midjourney
“That’s strange,” I mumbled as I inspected the stuffed owl.
I took it inside the house and kept it on the table. Why would a grown woman throw a stuffed owl at my window and run away? Who was she? And why didn’t she stop when I tried to talk to her?
It felt like there was more to this owl, so I picked it up and examined it closely. That’s when my gaze landed on the folded note pinned to its wing.
I carefully took it out and unfolded it.
A woman reading a note | Source: Midjourney
The handwriting told me the person writing it was in a hurry. And the message? Well, it was totally unexpected. It read:
He doesn’t love you. Be wise like this owl. Leave him and the house for me. Otherwise, you’ll regret it.
He? I thought. Is this about… Alex?
Was this unknown woman WARNING me about my boyfriend? What was it that she wanted me to know? Was there any truth to her claims?
A woman looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney
Lost in my thoughts, I picked up the owl again and examined it closely. This time, I spotted a stitch behind the owl. It looked like someone had cut it open and sewed the opening again.
I instantly pressed the owl to see if there was something inside, and to my surprise, I felt something. It was a long, hard object.
I quickly grabbed the kitchen scissors and cut open the owl. My eyes widened in shock as pulled out the object inside.
A person holding a pair of scissors | Source: Pexels
It was a tiny, creepy doll. And my name was written in black ink on its chest. But that wasn’t even the worst part.
There was a needle pierced through the heart of the figure.
I felt a shiver run down my spine. I couldn’t believe someone wasn’t happy with my relationship with Alex. And that someone wanted me to leave him. But why?
I still remember how my hands shook at that point, but my mind wasn’t ready to give up. I wasn’t someone who’d get scared and back off. I knew I had to find out the truth.
A close-up shot of a woman’s face | Source: Midjourney
I confronted Alex the same evening after he returned home from work. We were sitting in the living room when I showed him the note, the doll, and the half-cut owl.
The psychologist in me felt suspicious when Alex’s face turned pale and blank. He had no expressions.
“Do you know what’s this about, Alex?” I asked.
“I-I don’t know,” he said, but his eyes told me he knew something. “It must be a prank or something. I, uh, don’t really know.”
A close-up shot of a man’s face | Source: Midjourney
I watched in silence as he turned back to his phone, pretending like nothing happened. His body language told me he was hiding something.
“Alex,” I said, crossing my arms, “is there something you’re not telling me?”
He stammered, “No, of course not! I don’t know who would do this!”
I wasn’t buying it.
“Alex, I swear to God, if you don’t tell me what’s going on, I’ll throw you out with that creepy doll.”
And that’s how the truth came out. Alex admitted that he did know the woman.
A woman talking to her boyfriend | Source: Midjourney
Her name was Melissa, and she was his ex-girlfriend from college. They had broken up years ago, but apparently, she never really let go.
She’d been harassing him on and off for months, texting him, showing up at his work, even leaving notes at his gym. But he never thought she’d go this far.
“And you didn’t think to tell me this sooner?” I spat. “You let this crazy woman harass us without saying a word?”
A woman confronting her boyfriend | Source: Midjourney
“I’m sorry, Norma,” he said. “I wanted to tell you but I didn’t know how you’d react.”
“Really?” I rolled my eyes. “Now you’ll see how I’ll react.”
I knew Alex didn’t have the guts to confront Melissa, so it was time for me to take matters into my own hands.
The next day, I posted a fake ad on Craigslist for a massive garage sale. I listed all sorts of random items, but I made sure to include one special item.
Stuffed owl, slightly damaged, might be cursed.
A woman using a computer | Source: Pexels
And guess whose address I used? Melissa’s.
I knew Craigslist garage sales always attracted people, so I waited patiently to see how many people would show up. I drove past her house on the morning of the “sale,” and I couldn’t stop laughing when I saw a line of cars down the block. I watched as people gathered around her driveway with cash in their hands.
A few moments later, Melissa emerged from her house. She couldn’t understand what was happening.
A woman looking outside her house | Source: Midjourney
“What’s the rush about?” she asked, looking at the strangers standing outside her house.
As the people told her why they were there, I heard someone ask her, “What about the cursed owl?”
I didn’t stop to watch the full meltdown, but I heard enough to know it was glorious.
Later that night, Melissa left me a voicemail, screaming about how I’d ruined her day and how people wouldn’t leave her alone.
A person using their phone | Source: Pexels
I haven’t heard from her since.
And Alex? He still feels sorry for not telling me about his crazy ex sooner. We’re working through things, and I hope I won’t hear another thud on my window anytime soon.
What would you have done if you were in my shoes?
If you enjoyed reading this story, here’s another one you might like: A dream proposal on my birthday at a bustling restaurant should’ve been romantic until it wasn’t. When my boyfriend got down on one knee and showed me the ring, I never expected the moment to turn into a nightmare.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher
