It started last week when I was asleep in bed. I swore I could hear strange noises, but then it stopped. I figured I was just super tired and my mind was playing tricks on me. But then I swore I could feel the sheet move. In fact, it had, it wasn’t tucked in near my neck anymore, it was down by my shoulders. Normally I would be rational, get up, turn the light on and check around the room. But this feeling, this fear, that had crept into me turned my brain into mush. All I could do was pull the blanket close to me, and shiver with fright.   Thankfully, nothing happened that night. The sounds and strange things stopped occurring and I actually got some sleep. 

Then it happened again a couple nights later. Except this time I saw that my door was open. Again I heard strange noises echoing in the silence of my room. I closed my eyes so tightly that I could feel pain from the pressure building. I felt the distinct sensation of breath on my neck. Furthermore, I heard the clinging of something metal tapping against my bed. I was about to scream, but then suddenly I heard the creaking of my door closing and nothing more the rest of the night. 

Then there was last night. I was exhausted, so when I laid down that night, I was quickly out like a light. I awoke to my sheets sliding off me and over the edge of the bed. I did something I’d never done before in my life I screamed for my parents to come to the room. In a panic, they threw open the door and asked what was going on. I told them something was under my bed. My father checked. He glanced at me and then waved for my mom to kneel down. Even in the dark, I could make out him whispering to her. 

Suddenly my mom bear hugged me and told me that there was nothing there, that I had an overactive imagination. My dad was already out of the room by the time my mom let go, and she ignored my pleas as she exited. I wasn’t content with that, so I checked under the bed myself. I broke out in a cold sweat as I saw actual evidence that something had been there, my parents had just lied. 

That’s why tonight I’m clutching a knife and praying I don’t have to use it. Because I saw my brother pop another one of those pills, and we’ll be home alone most of the night. Our parents are out at a special award dinner. My father is being honored for getting government approval on his groundbreaking psychiatric drug.