Patience

Something is Off

Kelly awoke in the middle of the night, the feeling of someone watching her causing her to bolt upright in bed. She turned on the light beside her bed, the light confirming that she was alone. She looked at the empty space next to her wishing Jack was there. She got out of bed, tugging on a light sweatshirt, that's when she noticed her bedroom door was open. It was only open a crack but she knew she had closed it completely before she had went to bed. Kelly grabbed the wooden baseball bat she kept beside her closet, it was a gift from her grandfather from before she was born, he was hoping for another grandson. She entered the hallway cautiously, making her way to Patience's room.

She opened Patience's bedroom door when a crash of thunder made her jump. Lightning flashed, causing the dark apartment to strobe with light from time to time. Patience was fast asleep in her bed, the blankets in a crumbled mess on the floor beside her. As another round of thunder sounded off, Kelly made her way into the kitchen and living area of their home. She gripped the baseball bat tighter as she found her apartment door wide open, the light from the hall flooding the tiled floor, creeping onto where the title and carpet met. The shadows in the room made Kelly feel uneasy, she quickly walked over to the door, checking the hallway to see if anyone was there. The hallway was empty, which wasn't unusual for this hour. Kelly quickly closed the door to the apartment, turning on the lights in the main area, the hallway remained dark except for the occasional lightning flash. She once again locked the door, checking the door handle as she did so.

She sighed to herself, she made her way back down the hallway to Patience's room. She had left the bat in the kitchen, knowing she wouldn't be needing it. Kelly picked up her daughters blankets and sheets off the ground and gently laid them back over Patience. She glanced around the room, even with the only source of light coming from down the hall she could still make out the objects within the room. Kelly smiled noticing that the girls room was neat and clean. She closed the door behind her as she left the young girls room, she turned off all the lights before making her way back to her own room. Closing the door behind her, Kelly stood frozen for a moment as a flash of lighting revealed a shape outside her window. It looked as though someone was out on the fire escape. She quickly rushed over to the window and threw open the curtains to reveal that it was bare, there was no one there.
Kelly closed the curtains, rubbing her tired eyes, she knew she needed to get to bed. She couldn't be tired on the job, not if she wanted to keep it. She made a mental note to talk to her neighbors and landlord, see if they knew anything about the door. She crawled back under the covers and turned off her bedside light. Her sweatshirt in a heap on the ground in the corner of her room, she threw it without a care where it landed.

Kelly woke up to the sound of her alarm, she turned off with a grunt, annoyed by the sound. Kelly jumped as one of her hands landed on something soft and warm, she sat up quickly and let out a sigh of relief. Sometime in the night Patience had woken up and joined Kelly in her bed. Kelly brushed her daughters long blond hair out of her face, Patience stirred and soon woke up.

"Morning baby, how did you get here?" Patience sat up and moved into Kelly's lap.

"The storm woke me up. I was scared so I came in here." She said with a yawn as she rubbed her tired eyes.

"Well, why don't you rest for a little longer while I get ready? Jack's mom won't be here for another hour or so." Patience nodded.

Kelly got out of bed, turning on the TV she had in her room, she put on some cartoon. She then showered and continued to get ready for the day. She put on a light blue blouse that made her blue eyes pop and a black pencil skirt. Throwing her dry hair into a bun, she quickly did her makeup. She added some jewelry, sprayed on some perfume and then slipped on her shinny black heels.
She made her way to the kitchen, making herself a fresh pot of coffee and some toast for the both of them. She then lathered the toast in some Neutella and brought it to her daughter. Minutes later Jack's mother, Sheran walked into the apartment.