In an era before smartphones and WhatsApp, laptop video calls were the pinnacle of staying connected across distances. For flight steward Daniel, Skype was his lifeline to his wife, Emily, whenever he was away on duty.

After a short but tiring flight into Bangkok, Daniel was exhausted but knew his nightly Skype call with Emily was a routine he couldn't miss, even though it was just a night stop. They chatted for a while, sharing the day’s events and how demanding the passenger profile was, even for a short flight.

As was his habit, Daniel left the camera on while he continued unpacking and preparing for bed. Emily enjoyed watching him move about, bringing a sense of normality to their separated lives.

Tonight, however, was different. Emily’s voice, usually calm, sounded urgent. "Daniel, can you move to another room? Now," she requested, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Confused and irritated by what he saw as an unreasonable demand, especially after such a tiring flight, Daniel protested. "Emily, I’m exhausted. Why should I change rooms now? What’s going on?"

"Just trust me and do it," Emily insisted, her voice trembling slightly. She was clearly distressed, but Daniel’s fatigue and irritation clouded his judgement.

"Emily, I’ve had a long day. I’m not moving just because you’re feeling uneasy about something," he replied, lying down on the bed with a sigh of frustration.

Desperation laced Emily’s next words. "Daniel, I saw something. There was a shadow, but not yours. It moved behind you when you were on the bed."

Daniel’s annoyance evaporated, replaced by a chill that ran down his spine. He glanced at the screen, half expecting to see something himself, but the room appeared empty. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Emily’s explanation was cut short as the call abruptly ended. The screen went black, leaving Daniel staring at his reflection, a growing sense of dread washing over him. He scrambled to call her back, but the connection failed repeatedly.

Daniel’s mind raced as he remembered the tales of haunted rooms shared among senior crew members. Perhaps there was some truth to them after all. He gathered his things quickly, his fatigue forgotten, and left the room, never looking back. At the front desk, he requested a room change.

Surprisingly, the front desk acceded to his request without any questions. The next morning, he learned that the room had a history—a tragic one involving the murder of a guest in that very room.

Daniel never spoke of the incident again, and the room remained just another ghost story shared in hushed tones among the airline crew.