overhead. Impossible! Considering what had transpired from every conceivable angle, she could not reconcile the event or comprehend any scenario which satisfied the physical science, short of an intruder being in their house; the fear still at work lurking in her consciousness. So many places to hide, so many different ways to enter; their only security was born of isolation. With April a few feet away on the sofa comfort came in watching her daughter sleep as it had when listening to her play upstairs. A perceived threat prompted visceral reactions: alarm; sensory signal indicating a violation of sanctuary: Fear: the intruder.
For the first time, Carolyn sensed another presence. An odd queasiness, a sickening bile-driven twisting of her stomach occurred, one which she could not ignore. Blaming the coffee, she pushed it away in disgust. This dis/ease persisted for several minutes, a perception that she was not alone. The light was changing. The air felt heavy; thick and dark. Carolyn lowered her head, waiting for it to pass. It did. The pallor lifted as if evaporating and then it was over, as quickly as it had come. Slowly raising her head, as if retreating from a solemn prayer, she distinctly heard her baby breathing softly from across the room. Shaking off an eerie sensation she glanced down at her wristwatch. The girls were due home at any minute! Shocked to realize so much time had lapsed, certain it’d been only a few moments, Carolyn reached for her coffee. It was ice cold, as was the parlor. Glancing up toward their antique clock, it was no longer keeping proper time. It had stopped almost two hours before; about the time she’d put April down for a nap. Disoriented, she stared at the silent timepiece. Roger had relocated it from the kitchen wall because of the same problem. A reliable heirloom he inherited after his father’s untimely death, Roger’s most prized possession, a familiar tick ~ tock just stopped; its pendulum stilled by some unknown force. Why it kept failing was anyone’s guess. Perhaps the walls were uneven; one theory. As Carolyn made her way over to April, bringing a warm blanket along, she gently placed it across her daughter. Soundly asleep, April did not stir, no notice taken of the extra layer being added to her nap. Carolyn was relieved she hadn’t awakened while her mother was stricken by whatever it was that had a hold of her. There was no time remaining to consider this anomaly further. The school bus had arrived and she had to head the girls off at the pass before they woke up their sister. Racing through the house yet again, she caught them at the kitchen door. A promise was issued: hot chocolate and cookies if they’d only be quiet while April slept. Agreed! While all the ladies gathered around the table enjoying a snack, their littlest sister wandered into the room, wrapped in the blanket her mother had provided. The disgruntled youth quickly confronted her siblings, demanding an explanation: a reason why she had been so rudely awakened a few moments earlier! Boo! Who?
“Who shook me like that!?” Rubbing her eyes, the angry pout seemed cute to her sisters and they laughed but Carolyn was not amused. She left the baby behind in the parlor to spare her such an intrusion and none of them had left the kitchen since their arrival. Maybe adding the extra blanket disturbed her sleep, after all. Carolyn pulled her five year old into her lap, comforting the tearful child, speaking softly in her ear; a reassurance no one had approached her. Was it a bad dream? No! Adamant one of her mischievous sisters struck, shoved then ran, there was no convincing her otherwise. Her siblings became regretful and equally sympathetic, acknowledging their baby sister’s distress. Carolyn, once again overcome by the same sickening feeling she’d struggled to dispel, cringed in disbelief. What… who was happening in her house?
Cheerful children spent their evening dour and withdrawn. Whatever it
For the first time, Carolyn sensed another presence. An odd queasiness, a sickening bile-driven twisting of her stomach occurred, one which she could not ignore. Blaming the coffee, she pushed it away in disgust. This dis/ease persisted for several minutes, a perception that she was not alone. The light was changing. The air felt heavy; thick and dark. Carolyn lowered her head, waiting for it to pass. It did. The pallor lifted as if evaporating and then it was over, as quickly as it had come. Slowly raising her head, as if retreating from a solemn prayer, she distinctly heard her baby breathing softly from across the room. Shaking off an eerie sensation she glanced down at her wristwatch. The girls were due home at any minute! Shocked to realize so much time had lapsed, certain it’d been only a few moments, Carolyn reached for her coffee. It was ice cold, as was the parlor. Glancing up toward their antique clock, it was no longer keeping proper time. It had stopped almost two hours before; about the time she’d put April down for a nap. Disoriented, she stared at the silent timepiece. Roger had relocated it from the kitchen wall because of the same problem. A reliable heirloom he inherited after his father’s untimely death, Roger’s most prized possession, a familiar tick ~ tock just stopped; its pendulum stilled by some unknown force. Why it kept failing was anyone’s guess. Perhaps the walls were uneven; one theory. As Carolyn made her way over to April, bringing a warm blanket along, she gently placed it across her daughter. Soundly asleep, April did not stir, no notice taken of the extra layer being added to her nap. Carolyn was relieved she hadn’t awakened while her mother was stricken by whatever it was that had a hold of her. There was no time remaining to consider this anomaly further. The school bus had arrived and she had to head the girls off at the pass before they woke up their sister. Racing through the house yet again, she caught them at the kitchen door. A promise was issued: hot chocolate and cookies if they’d only be quiet while April slept. Agreed! While all the ladies gathered around the table enjoying a snack, their littlest sister wandered into the room, wrapped in the blanket her mother had provided. The disgruntled youth quickly confronted her siblings, demanding an explanation: a reason why she had been so rudely awakened a few moments earlier! Boo! Who?
“Who shook me like that!?” Rubbing her eyes, the angry pout seemed cute to her sisters and they laughed but Carolyn was not amused. She left the baby behind in the parlor to spare her such an intrusion and none of them had left the kitchen since their arrival. Maybe adding the extra blanket disturbed her sleep, after all. Carolyn pulled her five year old into her lap, comforting the tearful child, speaking softly in her ear; a reassurance no one had approached her. Was it a bad dream? No! Adamant one of her mischievous sisters struck, shoved then ran, there was no convincing her otherwise. Her siblings became regretful and equally sympathetic, acknowledging their baby sister’s distress. Carolyn, once again overcome by the same sickening feeling she’d struggled to dispel, cringed in disbelief. What… who was happening in her house?
Cheerful children spent their evening dour and withdrawn. Whatever it
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