Fear & Trembling & Sighs & Whispers
Things That Go Bump In The Night
My eyes shot open and I almost screamed. The room was dark.
She’d never done that before. The cat had been way too old to jump this high for years. And even when she was able to we had a strict understanding that she wasn’t on the bed at night. And yet tonight somehow she did it —remaining there just long enough for me to grasp what had startled me —before she bolted into the dark in response to my jumping awake.
Hey hey babe, he said —it’s okay. Everything is okay. I felt his arms reach out towards me and hold me.
My eyes adjusted to the dark, familiar outlines visible from the digital numbers on our alarm clock.
Lay down, it’s going to be alright. It was just Sylvie doing some admittedly weird shit. She’s hiding somewhere now—more terrified than you.
I lowered myself back onto the bed, catching my breath.
I relaxed and he lay behind me, hugging me close. The warmth of his naked body against mine was reassuring.
My pretty boy, he whispered, rubbing my head gently. Relax.
We laid in silence for a few minutes listening to each other breathe.
I’ll make you feel good, he said, as his hand ran gently from the back of my neck…
