SGFW Assignment; FEAR.

Child's POV.

Julie knew it was bedtime. She had said her goodnights, read the last chapter in her book and had one last drink of water.

“Night mom”

And then the light was gone.

“Ok, this isn’t so bad.” She said to herself. “I have my nightlight, I have my teddy and mommy and daddy are just down the hall.”

She tried to flip over and get some sleep. Her back, now to the closet, started to tingle. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end.

She felt like she was being watched, however impossible that might be.

Slowly she started to look over her shoulder. First she could see the ceiling. Then the light fixture.

Was that the wind? It sounded almost like breathing.

It sounds like it is coming from the closet.

It sounds like it is getting closer.

Julie took a deep breath and finished flipping over quickly.

A shape was moving towards her fast. She barely had time to let out one loud scream before it hit her right in the chest.

Her parents flipped on the light just in time for Julie to realize her pet dog sparkle had just wanted a cuddle.

ADULT POV:

7:15am. He was supposed to be home at 3:00am. She wiped the sleep from her eyes and dis-entagled herself from the sleeping toddler.

“Maybe he was on the couch.” She thought. “Maybe we were hogging the bed and he decided the couch was easier.”

She slowly walked down the stairs, trying not to make enough noise to wake the rest of the house.

He wasn’t on the couch.

Where could he be? The possibilities started racing through her mind. It was not like him to not call. She started to feel her heart beat faster and her throat felt somehow tighter.

“They would have called me if he was hurt on the job.” she reassured herself. “Sure his job is dangerous, but they would have called by now.”

The thought of a traffic accident flashed through her mind.

“They might not know how to reach me if he is hurt or...”

Her palms were sweating as she reached for the phone. She almost did not want to dial his work. She did not know if she wanted to know.

Slowly she pressed the numbers on the pad.

Ring, ring, ring.

“Hello, Dispatch.”

Her head felt like it was going to explode. Her heart was trying to jump out of her throat. Her mouth was dry and she could barely form the sentence.

“I am calling about my husband Jim Smith. He was working last night and has not come home yet.”

The next moment lasted an eternity.

“Didn’t he call you?” Said the voice. “He volunteered to cover a shift.”