I am awake now in the middle of the night. I think I hear the squeak of a door opening. Everyone as far as I know, is in bed, cuddling deep and snuggled in , piled under blankets, warm and cozy. I feel immediate alarm pulsing through my system.
But, I grow quieter still than the black of the night surrounding me. I listen intently straining to hear, is there someone in the house? I want to wake up hubby, but I feel foolish, small in my mid-night fears. You see I have an ear infection that will not clear up and when all is hushed, especially at night, I hear a high-pitched buzz in my ear as well as sounds like drum-beats, a virtual cacophony inside of my head. It is disconcerting to say the least and now, I don't know if I'm "hearing" things or if indeed, someone lurks downstairs, squirreling our "stuff" away in some kind of burglarizing attempt.
My chest is tight with unease, and I try to practice deep breathing to anchor the escape perhaps of reason. I sharpen my hearing, on guard, attempting to pick up any more noises that are not normal for this night-time quietude.
I toss and turn, and finally decide to brave the unknown myself. I get up, wrap the softness of housecoat around me and head downstairs.
There is nothing. And instead of chastising myself for these mid-night queries and forebodings, I feel only relief. It is good to be safe and the sounds that sometimes torture the night are all realized as a part of my malfunctioning hearing.
I breathe long and deeply- again and again, assured that now I can return to the luxurious comfort of my bed and sink once more in peaceful sleep, my nocturnal qualms now put to rest.
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