Around the age of 5, some children will have their own bed. The baby crib they had outgrew will be left open for a new sibling or donated for another family’s usage. Maybe around the age of 3 or 4, the child can squeeze in bed with their parents. However, as the child continues to grow, that child will need a bed of their own.
Mom and dad brought home a new bed! It was one of the very few
furniture that was bought in a long time. They took out the many wooden pieces
and nails out from the box, pulled out the manual, and started piecing the
framework together. Later, a twin-sized mattress was laid on the framework with
new bed covers, blankets, and pillows.
“Here’s your new bed!” dad exclaimed.
“Yay!” I cheered as I quickly ran to get on the bed.
“Ah! No jumping on the bed, okay?” Mom warned when she saw me getting ready to bounce.
“Okay!” I saluted and jumped off the bed and landed on the carpeted floor making my mom groan and shake her head.
I walked out of the room and entered my parents’ room, ready to sleep; after all, it was already nighttime, and I had fun watching my parents work on my new bed.
“Ah! You no longer are sleeping here. You will be sleeping in your new room,” Mom said when she saw me laying on their bed. She happily picked me up and placed me on my new bed.
“Today and from now on, this will be your new room.” Mom then quickly tucked me in and gave me a goodnight kiss.
“Goodnight, sweet child. Remember, mommy loves you,” she whispered as she flicked the lights out and closed the door shut.
I was in total darkness in a room I was unfamiliar with. Mom and dad no longer slept next to me. The only breaths I could hear were my own. A creaking sound echoed as I turned myself over. I took a sharp breath in as the sound had startled me.
“Mommy!! Mommy!!!” I screamed, “Mommy!!!”
The door quickly opened, as a stream of light entered the room. The lights were flicked on as Mom looked at me confused.
“What’s wrong?” She asked.
“Mommy... I’m scared.”
“There is nothing to be afraid of.” She assured me.
“It’s dark and scary.”
“Hmm. Will it be fine if I leave the door open?”
I saw light outside my room. I could hear the TV humming from the living room and dad moving the dishes into the sink.
“Yeah,” I agreed reluctantly.
“Good.” She kissed my forehead again and flicked the lights off.
I felt safe seeing the light streaming in and hearing the movements of my parents. Slowly, I was lulled to sleep…
I woke up. In darkness. I could not tell if I had my eyes
opened or closed. Yet, I had the sudden urge to go pee but was reluctant to get
out of bed.
What if I the moment I step out of bed, I will fall? Was there really a floor under this blanket of darkness? Is there something lurking in the night?
I was too scared to leave my bed and too scared to make a sound.
The floor creaked. It broke the deafening sound of silence.
The floor creaked again. Then a third time.
Each time the floor creaked, it seemed to be coming closer to me.
I quickly huddled in my blanket pretending that I was still asleep.
Was it mom? Did she come to check if I was asleep?
I strained my ears to hear the breathing sounds of my parents. Two asynchronous snoring could be heard in the next room.
Yep, mom and dad are both asleep… The creaking noise must be the wind or this home.
The floor creaked again, this time in my room with carpeted floors.
My shoulders tensed up. Beads of sweat rolled off my face. I held my breath and tightly closed my eyes.
There is nothing. There is nothing. There is nothing in this house. Mom and dad are in the room next to me. I will be fine. I will be fine.
But I was not fine. I was terrified. I was alone with this darkness. Alone with the thing that made those creaking sounds.
I do not know how I made it throughout the night. I was so terrified that I did not even remember when I fell asleep. I woke up on a wet bed that morning. I felt relieved as I watched my mom quickly pull apart the bed sheets and blankets. I felt relieved that morning had come. The sunlight never seemed more promising then ever... Yet, fear will begin to trickle in when I see the sun set. Another night alone in my room will happen and all the terrifying thoughts of what was making those sounds in the dark will haunt me throughout the night... The only solution to my problems would be to not wake up in the middle of the night.
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