Little Footsteps

The accident:

The next day, Paula woke up startled by a knock on the door and an exclamation thrown from the deepest annoyance by her aunt that was heard on the other side of the room.

At first Paula was confused because she was sleepy but then she understood what was happening... She remembered that she had locked the door of her room the night before. Surely Aunt Parker wanted to come in to wake her up and she could not.

Then Paula got up from the bed, put a shawl over her shoulders and pulled out the chair that blocked the door. Then she opened it. On the other side was her aunt with a rather circumspect expression.

"Excuse me, Aunt Paula," said a little uncomfortable with her attitude and not knowing how to justify herself.

"You must not close the door," reproached the woman with a serious tone.

"Well, there are no keys and..."

"I already know that there is no key for your door. The doctor told us about the rules that we had to follow said the woman, entering the room."

The woman observed the place with curiosity, looking in all directions.

Maybe she thought Paula was hiding someone in her room.

The girl looked at her surprised. What rules did Mrs. Parker talked about? She believed that the only rule was to take her medication, of course. Doctor Rush would have mentioned about it. Or not?

"Maybe we should review them today," said the woman. After giving her a quick look she left the room, but before she said: "Breakfast is ready."

When the woman left the room, Paula began to dress in everyday clothes, while thinking about what weird were Mr. and Mrs. Parker. It was evident that they were watching her, but she did not know the reasons. When she finished dressing, she drew the curtains and so the daylight entered the room.

She felt strange, discouraged because she had arrived there with the hope of reheating her life, but she had only got rejection and distrust.

Her uncle and her aunt were not what she expected and she had expected a lot, too ... now she understood. And the house ... that place seemed creepy. At night it was even worse ... Those little steps had been the last straw, but had she really heard them? Or would they have been the product of her imagination after the terror that invaded her that night?

Her eyes fell on the window and then on the landscape. Apparently that would be a nice day. The sun was shining on the horizon and there was a cool breeze that relieved that summer heat. Suddenly, her eyes met those of Uncle Parker who was smoking there, under the apple tree.

Surprised and scared, she left the window and went to breakfast. She knew that she didn't have to fear that man, but there was something in his eyes that she didn't like at all.

In the kitchen, Mrs. Parker was having hot tea. On the table there was a platter with bread and butter that seemed greasier than it should.

There was also a jar with homemade sweet and tea for Paula.

"You took a long time, your tea must have cooled down," the woman said as she watched Paula sit in front of her.

"No, it's okay," said Paula. The tea was already warm, but she didn't want to upset her aunt who seemed annoyed.

Then Mrs. Parker began to explain the «rules» that Paula should to follow at home and what Dr. Rush had indicated. Paula felt like a little girl in that place.

"Can I see the paper with the rules that the doctor sent to you?" asked the woman.

"He didn't send them written, he only mentioned them."