My eyes watered as they struggled to remain open while staying fixed on the glare of the television in front of me. Slumped over, legs crossed and slowly losing sensation beneath me, my chin in my hand, I felt a warm sensation slowly make its way down the side of my hand and down my forearm. Wiggling my toes slowly, I pulled my face back to see a trail of my own saliva stringing from my skin.

“Agh, yuck..” I said to myself sleepily. One at a time, I gradually bring my legs forward, stretching them out and rubbing them absentmindedly. I glanced at the clock beside me; 10:57PM. Damn.

“Uh oh…”

Almost on cue my mother appeared in the doorway and leaned against it as she crossed her arms with a warm but concerned smile. I could tell she noticed how exhausted I looked. I felt like I hadn’t slept in weeks, even though only the past few days had been haunted. And just like that I suddenly I snapped awake with realization.

“Alright kiddo, time for bed. I don’t know how you’ve been pushing yourself to stay up this late.”

I slowly rose to my feet and reached to the sky in a slothful stretch. Sitting Indian-style for hours was a feat I realized I had to leave in my youth. Becoming a teenager had been taking its toll on my body’s tolerance for more flexible activities like sitting in front of the tv like the old days. It’s not my status quo, but it sure did beat going to bed. Since the longer I stay awake, the less time I have to be in my room at night…

Almost as if she were reading my thoughts, mom placed her hand on my shoulder, this time visibly worried.

“Hey…everything okay?”

I was staring off into space again.

“Yeah! I’m fine mom. Great even, really.” She could tell my words were false and said in an attempt to convince the both of us.

“I promise.” I tried my best to look as normal and healthy as possible. Like I hadn’t been barely sleeping for almost a week. Like there wasn’t a horrible looming darkness haunting my bedroom. Like I was just an average teenager going through normal teenage stuff.

In that classic motherly way, she stepped up to me and took my chin in her hands, looking me over with a sigh.

“You need to get some rest honey. All this staying up late can’t be good for you. Get to bed and try to relax. Please?”

Without warning, my voice robotically sprang forward in response.

“But I don’t want to go to bed. The man with no eyes is waiting for me in the closet.”

I shook my head quickly, trying to shake those words from my mouth as if they had a bitter taste. Why did I say that? What came over me? I looked at my mom and searched her expression for any reaction to what I had said. Yet she met my gaze with a look of confusion, as if she were waiting for a response of her own.

“W-what?” I managed to stammer.

“I said have you been eating? Are you sure you’re okay? You seem completely out of it and now you’re beginning to worry me, Sam.” She pulled the cord to the ceiling fan and began to study me more carefully, now feeling my ribs and stomach and clicking her teeth in disdain. No, I hadn’t eaten. Not since I last slept…

“Y-yeah mom I’m eating, I swear. Soccer practice has just been keeping me lean that’s all.” I took a step back and smiled weakly and turned towards the stairs. They seemed so much darker and threatening than I remembered.

“Go straight to bed, and I want you to SLEEP Sam. You hear me?”

I nodded without responding and slowly placed a foot on the first squeaky step. I looked up at the open doorway to my room and immediately felt a small shiver snake it’s way up my spine. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath in and ran straight up to my room. Immediately turning on the light, I closed the door and leaned against it for a few seconds before slowly releasing the breath. Panting for a few seconds I locked eyes with my closet door. Open. Again. It always was, despite closing it every time I exit my room. It was always open upon my return. I took another sharp inhale as I swiftly made my way over to it and slammed it shut without looking. Feeling a slight sense of relief, I undressed for bed and reluctantly turned off the light. Snuggling under the covers I forced my eyes shut and focused on the sound of my own breathing. Soon I felt my body relax and I wasn’t having to squeeze my eyes tight to keep them shut. I was finally going to sleep. That is….until I realized that was someone else’s breath that I heard. Instantly the small hairs on my arms and neck stood on end and I froze as I heard the slow deliberate creak of the hinge on my closet door as it swung itself open…