AUTHOR'S NOTE: This story, while not graphic in nature, has themes of domestic violence and abuse, and mentions of alcohol abuse.
"Goodnight, honey!" Mommy leaned over me and kissed my forehead. "Don't forget Mr. Bunny!" She pulled my favorite stuffed rabbit up from the floor and brushed it off before putting it next to me and tucking us both in.
"Night, mommy! I love you!" I tried to wiggled the blanket loose, but she tucked it in so tight that I was stuck like glue. She grabbed my toes through the blanket and pulled them.
"I love you too, Maddy. Sweet dreams!" The light flicked off and she shut the door, leaving me alone underneath the green glow of the stars on my ceiling. I closed my eyes and tried my best to stop thinking about all of the adventures that Mr. Bunny and I would have tomorrow.
When I drifted off, I dreamed that I was in a forest, and that there was a little man following me. Sometimes I could see him, but sometimes I just knew he was there because I could hear the leaves crunching under his little boots. He was even smaller than I was, and mommy says I'm the tiniest little thing she ever saw.
I wasn't scared, since he was so tiny, but then his friends showed up, and they were following me, too. I started running, and the tiny little men ran after me. I tripped over a stick, falling and scraping my knee. Before I could get up, they caught up with me. When they got close, I finally got a good look.
They weren't little men. They looked like goblins. They were all grey, with long black hair on their arms and sharp, pointy teeth, and black, shiny eyes like a dolly. The closest one grabbed for my toes. I tried to kick, to pull my leg up, anything I could do to get away. The little goblin thing opened its mouth, and I could see rows and rows of little teeth. I closed my eyes, not sure what else I could do as the thing brought its mouth closer to my big toe.
Thump
My eyes shot open. I started crying for Mommy, fighting to get out of the blanket. I got an arm out and pulled at the blanket until I could toss it off of myself, then I sat up and tried to count my toes in the glow of the green stars. I forgot what came after three, so I had to count them twice, but I was pretty sure they were all there.
Mommy finally came in, turning on the light switch. The light burned my eyes as they tried to adjust to the brightness. My face was hot and I was shaking, squeezing Mr. Bunny as tight as I could.
"What is it, honey? Are you okay?" Mommy rushed over to me, dropping to her knees beside my bed. She took my hands in hers and stared at me, looking as scared as I felt.
"I- I had-" I sucked air into my nose, then kept going. "I thought something was trying to eat my toes." After saying it out loud, I knew it sounded silly. "And then I heard something in the wall!"
"Oh, poor baby that sounds so scary!" Mommy squeezed me tight, and I felt safe again. "Let me count your toes to make sure they're all there." She reached down, counting them all, giving each one a little tug. "Gotta make sure they are going to stay there, too."
I giggled. "Mommy, that tickles!"
"Oh, my! Your toenails sure have gotten long! We are going to have to clip 'em tomorrow morning. Are you okay now?" Mommy's green eyes were barely open. She yawned and stretched, and I felt bad for waking her up. She hasn't gotten a lot of sleep since we left home a few nights ago.
"I'm okay, Mommy. I'm a big girl!" I held my arms up like she taught me. I didn't know why grown ups always wanted to show each other their arms, but I thought it meant I was strong.
