I knew I shouldn’t have gone to check but I needed to see what was tapping against the glass.

It was so quiet and still outside. There was a heaviness in the air, like before a storm. I tried to shrug off the uneasiness I felt. I am a grown woman not a scared teenager, well that’s what I kept telling myself as I walked the perimeter of the house. I finally reached the bedroom window and nothing was there not even a twig or branch nearby that could make that sound.

I was about to turn and head back inside when I saw the shadow forming beside the bassinet. I knew I was sleep deprived and rubbed my eyes but the shadow kept growing and started to take human form and bent over and picked up my baby. I screamed and starting banging on the window as the thing cradled the Molly.

I ran back into the house and into the bedroom but there was nothing there. I ran to the bassinet and Molly was gone.

The undeniable fear rose inside of me … that gut wrenching knot in my stomach. I screamed out Mollys name but there wasn’t a sound. The house was so quiet and still. I ran from room to room searching but there was no one or no other thing here. I ran out the front door and around the house but there was nothing but darkness abound.

I ran back in and grabbed my phone and dialled 911. The dispatcher didn’t understand as I frantically tried to explain what I saw, but soon I saw the flashing red and blue lights coming. I ran to the cop car pleading with them to find my baby and again explained the figure I saw.

One of the men was trying to calm me down while the other searched the property. I could hear the crackle of their radios, … no one inside … erratic mother … crib empty … no sign of anyone else leaving here … found medication Haloperidol…

The young man asked what the medication was for. I don’t take any medication I told him especially as I was still breastfeeding. He asked again, but I couldn’t take it anymore and screamed at him to find my baby. The tears rolling down my face

She blinked again. She rubbed her eyes. It made no sense - the reflection in the mirror was not her own. She splashed more water on her face, but it was still the same image she saw in the mirror. Miranda’s gave way staring back at her. Sophie gasped. What was going on … was she dreaming? Shee looked around the room and realized she want at home but this was Miranda’s bathroom. She looked down at her body and it was Miranda’s body. Miranda was tall, thin and beautiful… all the things that Sophie secretly coveted and wanted to be.

It was all so unreal. Sophie felt her face , well Miranda’s face, and her hands touched her hair, her cheeks, her neck.

Sophie stood back from the mirror. It was only when she heard Miranda’s mother calling from the kitchen did she snap out of her trance. She was calling Miranda to get ready for school.

Sophie arrived downstairs after quickly picking out something from Miranda’s wardrobe. How could she explain this to Miranda’s mother… she just woke up like this. Like Miranda, her friend but someone she was so jealous of since 2nd grade. Miranda, whose life seemed just so perfect, with a loving family and a handsome boyfriend and popular with everyone at school. Sophie was out of her depth.

Miranda’s mother looked her up and down as soon as she walked into the kitchen. Sophie grabbed a slice of toast and started munching on it. ‘You are wearing that today?’ ‘Interesting choice’ but the words were sharp. Sophie winced ever so slightly and went for some more toast. ‘You shouldn’t be eating so many carbs Miranda.’ ‘You will going to your fathers today after school’ Sophie was confused. Miranda’s parents had a perfect marriage, always giving each other kisses and hugging when they thought no one was looking.

Just then, Finlay came through the door- Miranda’s older brother. He nodded at Sophie as his mother grabbed him for a hug. ‘ Finlay , you will be late. I will make you more breakfast, your sister has really outdid herself this morning and has eaten all yours. I keep telling her that she will never keep that boyfriend of hers if she gets any fatter’

Sophie could feel the toast starting to churn in her stomach. She picked up her bag and murmured goodbye and left. Finlay came rushing behind her as she left through the front door. ‘Hey it’s okay it’s just mom’ ‘ where is … dad?’ Sophie asks. Finlay gave her a quizzical look, ‘ eh it’s Wednesday where do you think he is Miranda?’ ‘He doesn’t have surgery today’ Sophie was really confused.