The invisible ink: Exposing the hidden stories in short narratives

Under The Bed and Into My Heart

Kayla lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling as the dim glow of the nightlight cast eerie shadows on the walls. Another Valentine's Day had come and gone, and she was still alone. She sighed, feeling a pang of loneliness wash over her. Why did everyone else seem to have someone to share this special day with, while she was stuck by herself?

As she gazed blankly at the ceiling, her mind began to wander to the old childhood myth about monsters under the bed. She had always been fascinated by the idea of creatures lurking in the shadows, waiting to pounce on unsuspecting victims. But as she grew older, she realized it was just a silly myth, a way to scare kids into behaving.

Or was it?

Kayla's gaze drifted to the space under her bed, and she couldn't help but wonder if maybe, just maybe, there was something lurking down there. She chuckled to herself, feeling a little silly for even entertaining the thought. But as she lay there, she found herself jokingly whispering, "Hey, monster under the bed, want to be my Valentine?"

To her surprise, a low, rumbling voice responded, "R-really?"

Kayla's heart skipped a beat as she sat up with a start. She peered into the darkness under her bed, her eyes straining to see anything out of the ordinary. And then, a pair of glowing eyes appeared, followed by a lumpy, misshapen head.

The monster, if that's what it was, slowly emerged from under the bed, its body a mass of twisted limbs and scaly skin. Kayla's initial fear gave way to curiosity as she took in the creature's awkward appearance. It looked like something out of a children's book, more pitiful than terrifying.

"Uh, yeah," Kayla stuttered, trying to play it cool. "I mean, I was just joking, but...I guess you're here now."

The monster looked at her with an endearing expression, its eyes shining with excitement. "I-I've never been asked out before," it stammered, its voice like a gentle earthquake. "I didn't think anyone would ever want to be my Valentine."

Kayla's heart went out to the creature. She couldn't believe she was actually feeling sorry for a monster, but there was something about its awkward demeanor that tugged at her heartstrings.

"Hey, I'm Kayla," she said, extending a hand.

The monster took it, its grip surprisingly gentle. "I-I'm Gristle," it replied, its voice still shaking with excitement.

As they sat there, holding hands, Kayla realized that this was the most unlikely Valentine's Day date she had ever had. But as she looked into Gristle's eyes, she saw something there that she hadn't expected - kindness, and a deep longing for connection.

Gristle, it turned out, was a bit of an outcast among its own kind. It was a gentle soul, more interested in reading books and playing games than in scaring humans. But its fellow monsters saw it as weak, and shunned it.

Kayla listened, entranced, as Gristle told her about its lonely existence under the bed. She found herself laughing at its silly jokes and sympathizing with its struggles. For the first time in a long time, she felt like she was connecting with someone on a deep level.

As the night wore on, Kayla and Gristle talked about everything and nothing. They shared stories, played games, and even baked a batch of Valentine's Day cookies together. Kayla couldn't believe how much fun she was having with a creature she had once thought was just a myth.

As the clock struck midnight, Gristle looked at Kayla with a shy expression. "I-I had a really great time tonight," it said, its voice barely above a whisper. "Would you...like to do it again sometime?"

Kayla smiled, feeling a warmth in her chest that she hadn't felt in a long time. "I'd love to," she replied, squeezing Gristle's hand.

As they said their goodbyes, Kayla realized that sometimes the most unlikely of creatures can become the best of friends. And who knows, maybe even something more.

As she drifted off to sleep, she felt a strange sense of peace wash over her. For the first time in a long time, she didn't feel alone. And as she glanced under the bed, she saw Gristle's glowing eyes watching over her, a gentle smile on its face.

"Goodnight, Kayla," it whispered, its voice like a soft breeze.

"Goodnight, Gristle," she replied, smiling.

And as she fell asleep, she knew that this was just the beginning of a beautiful, monster-filled friendship.