Bump in the Night

I jerked awake, sitting bolt upright in my bed. I longed to pant but I held my breath and listened, my ears straining in the silence.

Nothing.

I released my pent in breath slowly, and I looked towards the window. I loud crash had awoken me, but the silence around me told me it was probably a dream. I rubbed my eyes, and looked at the clock. 4:00am. I looked again to the window, where beyond the white window frame the inky night lurked. I pushed back the bed covers and came to my feet. Opening the window, I took a deep lungful of night air. Was it just me? Or was my sixth sense telling me something was not right? I listened again, and with a jolt, I realized what was wrong: no crickets. I felt a chill crawl up my skin. Burglars?

I snatched up my dressing gown and put it on. Slowly, I inched my bedroom door open, and quietly tip toed to the top of the stairs descending from my upstairs bedroom. As I peered down, my heart leapt into my mouth. There was a light on in my kitchen! Someone was in my house!

“Oh, Lord...” I breathed. “What do I do?”

I crept slowly back to my room and peered around it, looking for a weapon. I spied on my dresser, a gold painted rock that my niece had given me. I picked it up, weighing it in my hand. Perfect. I then dived under the bed, and pulled out my screwdriver set, selecting the biggest and pointiest one there was. I was ready.

Back down the stairs, I peeked into the kitchen. A man all dressed in black was standing at the far side of the kitchen. His back was turned, and he was crouching down to remove my coffee maker. I fumed inwardly. My husband had given me that on our last anniversary! He stood up, and I ducked back hurriedly. I had to cause a distraction... a ceramic lamp stood on the table next to me. It would do. I dragged it off the table, and clenched my eyes shut as I waited for the impact.

The man gasped. Slowly footsteps traced their way across the kitchen floor. Thump, thump. Thump, thump. Here was my chance! Taking a deep breath, the second he appeared around the corner I threw my rock, hard. The man ducked, and the rock went spinning across the room, crashing into the wall leaving a severe dint.

“What are you doing?!” He yelled at me. 

At once, I realised my mistake. Slowly his hand groped the wall and flicked on the light, revealing my most bewildered husband. My eyes widened in shock as I stammered, “I-I t-thought you were a burglar!”

“Of course not! I just got an early flight home!” His eyes twinkled. “Did you miss me?”

Fear forgotten, with a happy cry, I threw myself into his arms.