The Balloon in the Tree

The weekend getaway was supposed to be a peaceful escape from the city.

But as the sun dipped below the horizon, the isolation began to feel heavy

and suffocating. Michael stepped out for some fresh air, seeking a moment

of quiet away from the music. Then he saw it. A figure lurking

behind the lone tree. A clown, watching him with a frozen smile.

Panic surged through him as he scrambled back inside to warn his friends.

But they didn't believe him. They laughed it off as a prank played by

his own mind. When they looked, the field was empty. The tree stood