I shot up out of bed and look at my clock. 2:00 AM.

What was that?

There it goes again. Sounds like somebody is messing with the front door.

My head begins spinning with possibilities of what it may be…a burglar, a raccoon, a murderer?

Winnie, my dog, begins whining.

I finally get the courage to throw my blanket off of me and get out of bed. Shaking, I reach under my bed for my bat. I’ve had this bat under my bed forever, but there’s never been a time where I’ve had to use it…until now.

I realize the rattling of the door knob has stopped. I peer out my window that faces down towards my front door, and I see no one.

Maybe they’ve gone around back?

As if on cue, I begin to hear the back door being toyed with.

Alright, I tell myself, grow some balls and go down there.

I take a deep breathe in and begin my way down stairs. The rattling of the door getting louder, and louder.

My bare foot reaches the last step. The rattling stops.

I tiptoe to the kitchen to where the back door is located, baseball bat in hand. Winnie is right on my heels.

I pass the kitchen counter and notice my wife Jane had left her keys. She works the night shift at the hospital. Her car wouldn’t start before her shift today, so I had to drive her. I’m supposed to pick her up at 6am.

As I reach the door, I brace myself…and I swing open the back door ready to face the intruder.

Nothing.

Strange.

The window!

I can hear them getting in through the side window!

I rush over to the living room and I see them.

It’s dark, I can’t see their face.

They move towards me and before I know it, Im swinging my bat.

*crack*

My bat makes contact with their skull.

My phone dings twice. Two messages from Jane. The first one reads “getting off early today, getting a ride from a coworker”

The next message reads “hospital has spotty service, my texts aren’t sending. See you soon xoxo”

A pit grows in my stomach.

Using my phone flashlight, I shine it on the intruders face.

I let out a breathe “Jane.”