Laying in bed awake, I take long deep breaths to try and loosen the tightness in my chest. It’s after midnight and I should be asleep, I need to be asleep. Tomorrow is a full day. I hate facing packed days short on sleep with no room for a nap but it can’t be helped.

Something is in the room with me.

I don’t hear anything but I can feel it standing just inside the doorway. It’s staring at me. I snap open my eyes, straining them against the darkness but there’s nothing to see. Worse, the force of the presence lessens, like it’s hiding. After a moment I grit my teeth and force my eyes shut. As soon as I do, I can feel it standing over the bed. I try to ignore it, to not believe in it. Something brushes along my cheek and I thrash around trying to get away from the touch.

Nothing is there.

A car takes the corner in front of my house and a complex play of light and shadow slide along the wall in the hallway. There’s no way to tell if the light is chasing the shadow or if it’s the other way around.

I’m alone.