My hands were a little shaky. I was listening to my favorite songs while driving home from work. Trying to ignore this sinking feeling I had. I was fidgeting with my car's AC controls, while my left leg was shaking from the nervousness I felt. I got a call from the police today, they were telling me that my home alarm system went off. They investigated and caught the culprit. Some local squirrels had set it off somehow. They double checked the footage, before investigating the house and making sure everything was good. It was all clear and I was told it happens all the time with home alarm systems. Nonetheless I felt almost violated. Like my own personal safe haven was invaded, perhaps I wasn't even safe in my own home. I know I was just over reacting, there wasn't anything wrong. It was just the first time my alarm went off and I was startled. But I still couldn't shake this feeling. I slowly pulled up to my house, my stomach sank as I saw my dark house against the cloudy night sky. I turned off my engine, then leaned back into my car seat, trying to sink into it. I took a few deep breaths, letting my lungs fill and empty. Before I left the car, I gently slapped both of my cheeks. With a sigh I got out of my car and walked outside. I shivered as the cold late breeze pierced through my sweater. I took a few steps towards my house, I felt like I was going to throw up. I took out my phone and scrolled through my contacts. My finger hovered around the call button, but with a sigh I put my phone away. The next gust of wind came through, releasing a dull howling sound as it blew past the houses. I could feel my teeth begin to chatter, so I hurried up my steps into my house. The jingle of the keys in the lock seemed to echo out into the deep night. The door swung open with a grinding creak. I was met with unfamiliar shapes and silhouettes coming from inside my dark house. My chest began to tighten and I rushed to the nearest light switch. All the shapes were brought to life with the light. My chair, the closet, my scarf hung on the railing. I took a deep breath, and held my hand over my chest until my heartbeat leveled out. I began to ease up slightly, I was home, and I was fine. I started walking to my fridge to grab some leftovers, when I heard a faint tapping sound. I could feel all my muscles tense up as I walked into the kitchen. The sink was on, dripping slowly tapping on the bottom of the sink. I hesitantly turned my sink off. The hairs on my body began to rise slowly. I never leave the tap on. It could have been the police, they were here before. Maybe they wanted a glass of water? I need to calm down, I'm fine. I grabbed some food and heated it up. I went and sat down at my usual chair. The feeling of a warm meal helped me settle down. I finished and looked up, and felt all the air leave my chest. The chair across from me was slightly tilted in an unusual way. I live alone, and never sit there. It started to get hard to breathe, I could feel goose bumps spread across my body. I looked behind me, and to my left and right. I hesitated, then looked under the table. There was nothing there. I stood up and began to pace around my kitchen. I felt feverish, my sweat felt cold on my body. I felt in my pocket for my keys, holding them helped me feel safe. I looked towards my front door. Then I remembered the cold air. I groaned when I remembered my jacket was in my bedroom. I walked as fast as I could to my bedroom. The jacket lay on my bed, it seemed so far away. I rushed in and grabbed it and yanked it off the bed. My heart nearly leaped out of my mouth when I saw a card lying underneath my jacket. I froze up, my body started trembling and wouldn't respond. It was a paper cut out heart. I know I shouldn't read it, but my body just grabbed it.. ‘It's been so long.’ was written in a red pen. I started hyperventilating, and struggled to keep myself standing.
“Crash”
I hear my closet door slam open behind me. I slowly looked over my shoulder, The horror that I saw left me in silent terror. I grew numb, my body began to slow down, my head felt like it would explode. Things went blurry, I could feel my legs give out from under me, before I lost consciousness.
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