When the Darkness Sets

When the Darkness Sets

By Philessa Hooks Jenkins

11/12/2013 11:07pm

The door knob turns slowly

As I’m woken from a deep sleep

I can hear the footsteps
On the other side of the door

But I’m paralyzed, I can’t move

My heart beats loudly

I can’t catch the air

I tell myself that I’m all alone

Pulling the cover over my head

Then I just close my eyes
As if it would save me some how

Wishing this crazy feeling would pass

I can hear the door as it creeks open

I find myself on the floor shaking

As the panic sets in I begin to feel this calm

It’s as if the world went silent

Right there in that moment

I woke to the darkness; engulfed by this fear

Then forced to listen but nothing...
no more footsteps

I build up the courage inside me
to peek over the bed

The room is silent and filled with darkness

But I manage to see that the bedroom door is closed

Was I dreaming?

I crawl along the bed in the direction of the light switch

Still afraid… until the light came on

And I realized that I was still alone