The Neighbour

Sometimes, the real threat isn’t what’s watching from the shadows, but what’s already inside

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Olivia thought she was free.

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After escaping her violent past, Olivia is determined to rebuild a safe life for herself and her six-year-old daughter, Mia.

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Their new home was supposed to be a fresh start, quiet, secure, far from everything they escaped.

But safety is an illusion.

Something follows her. The unseen eyes, the lingering presence, the unshakable feeling that she and Mia are never truly alone.

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And then there’s Abe, the overly friendly neighbour who’s always there. Watching. Helping. Too much.

The warnings begin. A shadow in the garden. A note urging her to keep her daughter safe. An open door in the dead of night.

Is it the monster she ran from? The one standing right next door? Or is there something even darker at play, something she can't outrun?

Olivia swore she’d never be a victim again.

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This time, she won’t run.​​ This time, she won’t hide.​ This time, she’ll fight.

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But will it be enough?​

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THE NEIGHBOUR is a short story of resilience, paranoia, and a mother’s fight to protect the one thing that matters most, her daughter.