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.”