The Crow

I know why my hands are shaking. I’m afraid.

I look at the clock and watch the second hand jerk from one small dash to another. I know when it gets to the top, it will be time. Time for bed, something most people look forward to. Not me.

“Okay Gary, bed time.”

The cheery voice of my mother does nothing to reassure me, in fact it sends chills crawling over my skin all the way to my toes.

“Please mom, can I stay up, just a bit longer?” I ask, already knowing the answer.

“Not tonight honey, you have school tomorrow.”

I drop my head, defeated, and walk slowly towards my bedroom, dreading another night. As I pass the oval shaped mirror in the hallway, I glance at my reflection. My face is pale, my fear obvious. How can my mother not see it. A tear balls in the corner of my eye and rolls down my cheek.

“Mom, please,” I beg.

“Good night sweetheart,” she says.

I move into my room and the door closes behind me. How, I don’t know. I didn’t close it.

I climb onto my bed and sit, cross legged, at the foot of the bed.

I have no idea how much time passes, but suddenly I see movement. I feel cold, weak, dizzy. I stare. Something thrashes from within my pillow case.

I know what it is before I see it. It’s a crow. It emerges from the white pillowcase and stares at me.

“You can’t escape me,” it says, its beak clicking as it talks.

“Leave me alone!” I yell.

My door swings open. My mom stands like an angel, backlit by the hallway light.

“Why don’t you come and sleep in our bed tonight,” she says.

My fear fades.