The Strange Visitor

"Mom! I am starving! Is dinner prepared?" asked Sophia. Sophia was a 12-Year-Old innocent and sweet girl. She helped lots of people and that's why people loved her. Her mother, was dearest to her. Sophia would do anything for her mother. That's why, her mother loved her dearly.

Mom replied, "Darling, food will be served in 10 minutes. Today, it's your favorite, Mac And Cheese!" and as soon as Sophia heard this she jumped in excitement. She was going to her room when suddenly, she heard a knock. Sophia went towards the door and looked through the peephole. It was an odd man dressed in black and was wearing a mask and a cap, serving to cover his face. 

"Mother, there is an odd man knocking the door. Can you please come here?" requested Sophia.

Mom nodded and turned off the stove. She quickly came towards the door and looked through the peephole. "He looks bizarre." she stated and slowly opened the door. 

"Hello Miss. I am Jack and I come from California. I have some work here and every hotel I seem to find is booked. Can I please stay here just for a day. I promise I won't bother too much." said the stranger. 

But then mom was too insecure about letting anyone in so she replied to the stranger, "Sir, I am sorry but I can't let anyone come in without permission of my husband. Wait a moment sir."

Mom told Sophia to be in charge in front of the door and make sure he doesn't come inside. While Sophia was standing there making sure the stranger doesn't come in, Mom called her husband. He allowed the stranger to come inside.

Mom eventually cut the call and approached to the stranger and said, "Yes mister, you may come in." with a smile, "Please sit on the couch and meanwhile I'll prepare some coffee for you".

Mom was a very welcoming person. She didn't want any stranger to go with a broken heart, in the sense, she didn't want anybody to go with a sad face without receiving help.

When the odd man stepped in and sat on the couch he immediately started staring on objects like tables, chairs, electronics and books. It gave chills to Sophia and she tried to be as far as possible from the man. The man did not do any queer actions like try to interact with Sophia, or ask if the coffee was ready every 10 seconds like how most of the guests do. The strange man removed his cap and mask. That second, Sophia took out her phone and captured a picture of the man.

The stranger moved towards the door as if he knew that someone was going to knock on the door. That very moment someone knocked on the door. Seeing that the guess was so accurate, Sophia started sweating. The stranger saw her sweating and he smiled at her. Sophia smiled back but she noticed that the man saw her sweating badly. She wiped her forehead with a napkin and made her way to her mother. 

"Mommy, this man is giving me chills! He guessed that someone was going to knock so accurately and he was staring at objects in our house." whispered Sophia.

Mom hugged Sophia and whispered back "Darling, you should always help someone in need. Don't be scared. Mommy is here and Dad will be back soon." and smiled.

Sophia obeyed her and opened the door slowly. She saw her dad was there! She hugged dad and screamed, "Daddy!!" 

Dad hugged her and gave her a gift, "Angel, sorry to be late. Here is a gift for you!" he said and chuckled after seeing the bright smile on Sophia's face. 

"You must be the man who needed help right?" asked dad to the stranger and the stranger spoke no words. He just nodded and sat on the couch.

Dinner was ready. Mom served the dinner and gave some to the stranger too. All he did was smiling and nodding. Sophia though for a second he couldn't speak but she remembered listening to what he said earlier.

Everyone has a hearty meal and started talking. The stranger seemed to have no interest in what anyone was talking about. He got up and asked for permission, "May I leave the table?" 

Dad nodded but suddenly Sophia got up and said "Why don't we take a group picture? After all, a visitor has come to our house after such a long time!" 

The stranger started refusing and everyone could clearly see he was panting as if some secret will come out that second.

Dad looked at him, "Are you camera-shy?" he asked.

It seemed that the stranger had no other excuse for not taking the picture so he nodded.

Mom continued, "It's okay, sir! We will not force you but it will be good if we can take a picture." 

The stranger gave a glare to Sophia which made Sophia nervous. He looked at mom and dad, and nodded his head which made us clear that he is ready to take a picture. Sophia took her phone out and took a selfie. Right after the selfie, without saying a word, he rushed to his room and everyone was confused.

Mom, dad and Sophia spoke and the day a little bit more and went to their respective rooms for sleeping. 

The next morning, everybody was downstairs and it was a bright Saturday. Sophia woke up and saw it was already 9 a.m.! She got out of bed, brushed her teeth and west downstairs. 

Seeing that the man was nowhere to be seen, Sophia asked her parents. "Mom, dad, where is the visitor? Did he leave before I woke up?"

Her parents looked completely baffled. Mom stated, "Darling, pay attention to what's happening at home! There was no visitor!" dad agreed with mom's words.

Sophia's mouth was wide open! She shouted, "What! But, I saw the stranger with my own eyes! I clicked pictures of him! Wait! Let me show them to you!

Sophia rushed to her room and grabbed her phone. She again walked down the stairs and opened her phone gallery. She opened the pick and without looking, she gave the phone to her parents. Her parents laughed after seeing the picture! They told Sophia that there was no person in the picture, just the couch! 

Sophia looked at the picture and gasped. There was no one but the couch. She remembered taking a family picture and saw that...

There was only mom, dad and Sophia.....