Waiting

3 1 0
                                    

   I am wrapped up in a blanket on the couch and I am lying down, like I'm getting ready for sleep. I am lying here because I don't want to go back to my bedroom. If I stay here if I don't go back, it is like I can't go back. It is like I am busy.

   She walks out of her bedroom and turns on the hallway light, she looks in both directions before she comes into the living room. I stare at her with my head sideways against the couch back. I am watching her. She turns her head sideways too and looks at me. 

   "What are you doing?"

   "I like the couch."

   "Hm."

   She walks to the front door and unlocks it.

   "What are you doing?"

   "I'm going for a walk."

   "Why so late?"

   " 'Cause I'm bored. And I can't sleep."

   I remember my mom telling me to tell her if something is going on. She is scared something bad is going to happen. Going to happen to her. Her pills stopped working. Or maybe just her brain stopped working. Her feelings stopped working. I have to make sure something bad doesn't happen. I should stop her. 

   "You should probably just stay inside."

   "No. I can't sleep. Bye."

   She walked outside and closed the door.

   I look up at the ceiling under the blanket on the couch. I tell myself she will be fine. It is a good neighborhood. Even if it is not a good head, it is a good neighborhood. I wanted to sleep here so I didn't have to go back to my bedroom, so I could be busy. But now I can't. My eyes won't close. It's too bright. I get up and turn the hallway light off. I go back onto the couch. I lie down again but this time my thoughts won't close. I was supposed to tell my mom if something happened. She left the house at night and her pills don't work. It is night time and she is going for a walk. She doesn't have her phone so she is bored. She doesn't have her phone so she can sleep at night. But she can't sleep and she doesn't have her phone. She is going for a walk at night and she doesn't have her phone.

   I sit up on the couch and open the blinds. I look out the window and my eyes don't close. I look out the window down the street. I watch. I keep thinking I see a person standing in the corner. Standing next to a car but there is no one there. 

   I am watching. 

   I wish I would see something. I wish I would see her walking down the sidewalk or something like that. I don't see anything. I hear something. I hear sirens. I don't know. They are close. I don't know. 

   The sirens left. They left at night. They took a walk down the street at night. I am still watching that corner where I think someone is standing. Maybe it'll move, it'll start walking over here from the corner and I will be relieved. I will watch it walk up our porch and open the door to let it inside and invite it into the dining room for a nice bowl of cereal. Then we can go to the bedroom with all the lights on at night so it's bright and we can be busy talking and watching and laughing and looking. If it comes inside I don't have to be busy on the couch alone in the dark. I can be busy in the bedroom with it in the light. But it stays there in the corner of the street. And it doesn't move. It doesn't breathe either. 

   The sirens came back. They came back at night. They took a walk down the street at night but now they are back and they are screaming. I look out the window. I am watching. I am watching for her. I am waiting for my sister to come back at night. 

You've reached the end of published parts.

⏰ Last updated: Apr 22, 2020 ⏰

Add this story to your Library to get notified about new parts!

Short Stories for the Night TimeWhere stories live. Discover now