Noises In The Night | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: Noises In The Night | Previous Challenge Entry
By Sandra Wells
08/04/16
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES

She allowed her head to fall back against the recliner’s comfortable head rest: her feet elevated; her eyelids fighting exhaustion’s gravity like pull; her infant son cradled in her arms contentedly feeding. The house was nearly dark and the only sounds were her tiny baby’s sweet breathing and her husband’s distant snoring. Soon she would be able to crawl back in bed and sleep peacefully for another two, possibly three hours. At least that was the plan.

Kim bounced her baby gently, “No going to sleep yet, you need to finish eating,” she yawned. Fatigue’s warm embrace was quickly drawing her in: her heavy lids hung at half mast, her head lolled lazily to one side, the sound of her husband’s snoring faded behind the soft blanket of slumber.

CREEEEAAKK. Kim’s eyes popped open, her throat constricted within fear’s vice-like grip, a chill raced down her spine, her arms held her baby closer to her chest. The dimly lit room suddenly felt hot as a furnace and seemed to be closing in around her. She had locked the outside door—hadn’t she? Yes, of course…of course?

Kim held her breath and slowly twisted her head so she could see through the sliding glass door by her side and into the enclosed porch, praying it would be empty, terrified it wouldn’t. The porch was empty. No ski-masked predator loomed just beyond the glass ready to pounce. Kim exhaled and loosened her grip on her baby. It had been nothing more than sleep-deprived imaginings.

CREEEEAAAAKKKK. Kim whipped her head around again. That was no imagining. The porch remained empty. But a door had definitely opened somewhere. Ever so slowly, barely moving her head, she scanned the nearly dark room. Her bedroom door was still closed, but the boys’ bedroom door…Kim leaned forward, forcing her eyes to focus; the door was ajar. She had shut it tight, she was certain of it. Maybe Aaron was out of bed? But, if so where was he?

Something was terribly wrong.

Kim forced her body to move and slid the footrest back into place as quietly as possible, then stood up and tucked Lucas safely in the chair surrounded by blankets. “I’m sorry Sweetie, I’ll be right back,” she whispered, before turning her attention to the slightly opened door.

Her trembling hand grasped the knob, her legs wobbled beneath her; something or someone had opened this door, but who…or what? Kim pushed the door open wide, her eyes immediately drawn to Aaron’s bed. “Oh dear God, No.” Her son lay on the bed’s edge, his head and neck dangling between the headboard and the guardrail, which had slipped out of place: the guardrail snug against his neck.

Kim darted across the small room, grabbed the guardrail, giving it a firm yank with one hand while cradling her child’s head with the other. Ever so gently she slid her son’s head back onto his pillow and shuffled him to the middle of the bed. He was breathing. He was alive. He was sleeping; blissfully unaware of the danger he had been in.

Falling to her knees, Kim pushed the guardrail firmly back into place as tears of thanks coursed down her cheeks. She had always believed in Guardian angels, but tonight she knew for certain. “Thank-you. Thank-you. Thank-you,” she whispered to Aaron’s invisible hero. “Thank you for saving my son.”

Kim pushed herself up from the floor, her hands gripping the guardrail, and bent down to kiss her little boy. “I love you so much, Aaron,” she whispered into his soft hair. She wanted to grab him up in her arms and hold him close to her heart. She wanted to look into his sleepy blue eyes and express her love. She wanted to…She needed to go back to her baby.

Kim reluctantly walked out of the bedroom, casting one more look at Aaron before closing the door. Her trembling legs carried her back to the recliner where Lucas lay patiently waiting her return. “You’re such a good little boy,” Kim whispered as she bent low and scooped him into her arms and held him close; the eerie, lifesaving sound of the creaking door still echoing through her brain. “Thank you,” she whispered again as she settled back into the recliner. Lucas had been patient long enough.

“For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go.” Psalm 91:11

PREVIOUS ENTRY | NEXT ENTRY
SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY FOR THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE

The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.

Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.