Rain beats down on the rooftop,

Thunder rolls through the city,

She sits at home with her laptop,

Looking at photos of her friends, so pretty.

She has the house alone for the night,

Parents left for the long weekend,

She stayed in, hoping for some quiet.

The sliding glass door rattles end to end,

Out in the yard, it’s so very dark,

Nothing can be seen more than a few feet.

Looking towards the yard the dog starts to bark,

She feels nervous, feels her fast heartbeat.

It’s nothing, she says to calm herself,

But still checks the lock on the door,

And sees the time of the clock on the shelf,

The hands read 11:34.

Suddenly a noise comes from down the hall,

She curses herself for leaving off the lights,

Picks up her phone, trying to stall,

Looks at her cup on the table filled with melting ice.

She heads towards the kitchen, grabs a knife,

A flash of lightning streaks through the rooms,

She has never been so scared in her life,

The hallway, ever closer, looms.

Walking slowly, examining each nook,

She reaches the end of the hallway,

Only to find in the back room, a fallen book.

Nothing else appears to be astray.

Convinces herself there’s nothing to fear,

And decides to go to bed right then,

But makes sure to keep the knife near,

She returns to her room once again.

All the night long she tosses and turns,

She feels eyes on her, gives her bad dreams,

Her skin with their gaze starts to burn,

She wakes to the sun’s strong beams.

Sits up in her bed and looks to the floor,

Muddy footprints lay there,

And lead all the way to the door.

She gets up, and says a quick prayer,

Follows the footsteps that lead to the front,

The sliding glass door unlocked, with a note written:

“I’ll never leave you alone, I’ll be blunt,

With only you, love, am I smitten.

See you soon.” In red letters it was painted,

Then she promptly fainted.