All That Had Been Forgotten: Late Night Visit

The moon was full and shining through her window, casting a white glow throughout the room; soft whispers of sleep filled the air of the dark house.  The wooden boards creaked with the gentle rock of the wind that swayed the trees. Besides the gentle taps of rocks hitting the upstairs window, it was a soothing night.

Clara’s eyes fluttered open, as she sat up in bed. Another rock hit the glass with an impatient thud, and she knew that she hadn’t been imagining, but who would be coming to visit, so late in the night?  

Lifting the window, she looked down to see the one person that she never wanted to see again. “Robert, what are you doing here?” Clara whispered, looking towards the other bedroom to make sure her sister hadn’t woken. Actually, she wished he would.

“I came to see you.” Even through the distance of a few stories, she thought to have recognized the brilliant, maniac smile of the man she had fallen in love with.

“It’s late.” Clara told him, her body shaking a little as his smile faded, and was being replaced with the anger of a vicious animal. “Go home.”

“Clara—you’re being silly. I just want to make sure you were okay after you fell today.” He answered, rolling something around in his hand—as if it was a weapon and she was the designated target.

“I’m not coming down.” Clara offered, leaning against the window sill. When he didn’t move from his spot on the grass, she retreated back into the room, taking care to lock the window back up—drawing the blinds, and climbing back into bed.

As she laid her head back against the pillow, she felt her body shaking even more than before, as she listened to the crickets that were singing their own melody. Clara wished that she were one of them—out free in the cool summer night—instead of feeling like she was trapped by an angry alligator.  

She had skipped dinner, instead having fallen asleep after drawing a warm bath. Her hair was still slightly dampened as her fingers ran through it—and Clara knew that she wouldn’t be falling back to sleep any time soon, so she laid there looking at the ceiling. That is until her stomach kept rumbling incessantly, and she got up again. Slowly she crept out of her bedroom, careful not to disturb her parents or siblings as she went down the stairs to the kitchen area.

She lit a lamp instead of using the limited electricity that they had—just in case Robert was still nearby—or at least the limited amount of light that would catch anyone’s attention that 

she was up in the first place.

Carefully she went through the cabinet where the bread was kept. Savoring every bite, she ate it until it was gone. Tearing off a bigger piece than before— she was eating a little quicker now, in order to fill up her stomach and calm her nerves.

As she was half way finished—feeling a little more satisfied—she heard the middle step creak 

on the stairs, and she tensed up. For a moment, she imagined that Robert had climbed through her window and was coming after her.

When the familiar face of her mother stepped into view, she relaxed slightly. “I thought you’d come down here, sooner or later.” Her mother whispered, pulling out the chair next to her and sitting down. Her face looked so gentle, reflecting a kind smile.

Clara loved her mother deeply, but she suddenly felt ashamed to look at her because of the secret that she held. “What really happened today? Falling didn’t have something to do with that McGregor boy, did it?”