The first night felt endless. Every flicker of shadow buzzed with wings, every corner seemed to pulse with unseen movement. Sleep hovered just out of reach, thin and fragile. I tried everything—chemical sprays, harsh candles, open windows, closed doors—but the tension only thickened. Then a single basil plant arrived, and its scent began to redraw the room, turning panic into a softer, watchful quiet that wrapped itself around the night, until the restless hum that once filled every breath began to fa… Continues…