A Stormy Night: Stories to Read by Firelight

Somnum

Gina stared up at the lain, white ceiling above her bed. The moon was high and cast a bright, pale yellow glow into her room.

    A small black fly buzzed about, acting as the only source of sound around her, and Gina found her eyes darting this way and that, following its movements as it flew.

    Gina had laid down an hour and a half previous, but despite her exhausted state and heavy eyes, she couldn’t manage to catch a wink.

    She turned and laid on her left side, facing the window and allowing the moonlight to bathe her as she tried once more to shut her eyes.

    Buzz!

    Gina jumped back.

    The small fly sailed past Gina’s face and she shot upright with a groan.

    She watched as the fly landed on the wall near her door, and vanished into the dark space.

    Gina froze.

    In the space, the shadow of a tall man stood.

    Her heart pounded as she reached slowly over to her lamp.

    Click!

    The room filled with yellow light and the shadow vanished from the corner, as well as the fly.

    The back of the door held several shirts hung on hooks and Gina clutched her chest and sighed.

    Buzz!

    Gina glanced left and saw the small insect land on the wall above her lamp. She watched as it cleaned its face before darting to her nightstand and making eye contact with her.

    With little hesitation, Gina brought the palm of her hand down onto the edge of the wood. When she lifted it, the sticky mess of insect innards covered her hand.

    “Ew!” she exclaimed, wiping her hand off on the edge of the nightstand and throwing off the covers to her bed.

    Gina exited her room and headed to the bathroom down the hall to the right, just before her father’s room.

    She flipped on the light, then lifted the tap before furiously rinsing her hands under the hot water.

    Suddenly, there was a soft knock on the bathroom door, followed by creaking hinges.

    “Are you okay, dear?”

    Gina glanced over to see her father to her right, leaned in the door frame.

    “Yes,” she replied, drying her hands on a towel near the door, “I just can’t sleep tonight.”

    Her father gave a sympathetic smile and scratched his chin.

    “I’ve sure had nights like those, especially when you were a baby.”

    Gina grinned then gave a deep yawn.

    “I’m absolutely exhausted,” she said, rubbing her tired eyes, “I swear I’m starting to see things too.”

    Her father frowned.

    “I’m sorry, honey.”

    Gina moved past her father and into the hall.

    “I’ll just go back to bed,” she said, holding the knob to her bedroom door, “I’ll see you in the morning.”

    Her father put a hand up.

    “Wait,” he said, gesturing down the hall toward his bedroom, “I think I might have something that can help.”