“Ready or not, here I come!”

The little girl giggled as she ran through the house.

She checked the wardrobe.

Empty.

Under the bed.

Empty.

Behind the curtains.

Nothing.

“Come out!” she shouted. “I know you’re here!”

From the kitchen, her father laughed.

“Keep looking, sweetheart.”

She opened the last door.

The basement.

Her smile disappeared.

There were photographs covering the walls—dozens of them. Different people. Different dates.

And in the middle of the room was a chair.

Her father walked quietly behind her.

“Found them?”

She nodded.

“Daddy… who are all these people?”

He smiled.

“My friends.”

She looked at the photographs again.

“Where are they?”

He pointed at the chair.

“They’re playing too.”

The girl swallowed.

“What game?”

Her father leaned closer.

“Hide-and-seek.”

She looked frightened.

“Who's hiding?”

He smiled.

“Everyone except me.” 🤡🌚