The Last Door

The Right Thing

I had a pounding headache after eating breakfast so I walked into my room with a hand on my head. It was surprisingly hot in there so I flipped on the ceiling fan and watched it spin a couple times. Before flopping onto my bed face down. Trying to breath in the blanket was hard and I felt like I was being watched. So I turned onto my back the hum of the ceiling fan was relaxing. It reminded me of summer nights laying in the king sized bed with mamma while the ceiling fan buzzed above or heads.

Bump. I sat up a pitter patter of feet outside my door then a click. I sat up straighter. listening. The same feeling I got on my first night when grandma locked my door. Like I wasn't alone creeping back to me.

I stood up nervously shaking a little. Hoping it was grandma hoping the only other person in this house was her. Then underneath my foot I felt a crack spread under my foot. "No no no no no no!" I bent over picking up the picture frame that once hung on my wall the glass was starred.

I opened the back to take the picture out. I backed along the wall still feeling watched and made my way to the closet. I opened the closet door and set the picture frame on the empty shelf. I closed the door looking behind me as I did I saw something reflect the light. The closet clicked and made me jump.

I looked around and walked to the small glean of light and bent over to pick it up. As my hand touched the cold metal I heard a gasp somewhere distant. I grabbed it and turned to look behind me "hello?" no answer I remembered Grandmas sigh the night she locked my door.

"Grandma?" Still no answer. My head still hurts so I SAT back on the bed and leaned against the frame I looked at the little key it was different than the last I must have fallen from somewhere possibly given into gravity once the fan started spinning fast enough.

I felt unsafe laying on top of the covers so I pulled them over my legs still scared by someone being out there.

I sent up a little prayer holding the key to my heart reminding me of the poem that crinkled under my shirt. "Please let this bring good to me" It wasn't the kind of prayer Grandma insisted we recited at the table.

Because this time I kept my eyes open and looked up at the ceiling as if I might catch a glimpse of God Himself.

tap. tap. tap. A tick at the door. I jumped "hello? Grandma?" My door swung open but no one was there. I don't know why but I stood up and walked halfway across the room. A burst out bravery over taking me. "What are you doing?" I asked myself "the right thing" a hushed whisper replied. I jumped freezing for a minute. Then I ran back to my bed I ran as fast as I could. Lunging onto it I close my eyes tight and sat in the middle of the it. My back against the headboard. I was shaking and I dared to take a peak looking around frantically.

"GRANDMA!!!" I screamed thud thud thud slam click. Someone ran into the other room. Then thump thump thump Grandma came into view "What is it?" she stopped and started at me out in the circle of doors. "There was someone out here" I sniffed and started to cry.

I sat up leaving the key behind she looked at me and that's all she did no change in expression so blank. "Well I can assure you there is no one here" she said almost laughing "But if you if you say there is then you'll sleep downstairs tonight" Then she walked back downstairs with a sigh I ran downstairs after.

"Can I come down now?" "You could have come down anytime."  She put her hands on her hips. I looked over my shoulder in a piece of white fabric stuck out around the corner then pulled away. I heard a shuffle up the stairs

"Grandma I just saw someone!" I said pointing up the staircase. "nonsense child you have the imagination of your mother" she turned to walk away "But I saw someone up their!" She stopped shook her head and walked away.