you never know

There's really nothing better than climbing into your welcoming bed after an extremely long, taxing day. You finally get to turn your mind off, and just as your drooping eyes begin to close...you suddenly realize you forgot to turn your closet light off. Your room is pitch-black dark and your heart skips a beat at the idea of making that irrationally long voyage to the other side of the room...all alone in the eerie silence. That is one of my greatest fears: getting up or moving about in the wee hours of the night.

Once I'm safely tucked in bed that is where I wish to remain. You really never know! Some deranged lunatic stalker could be patiently watching, just waiting for me to rise from my shelter and venture into the unknown. He could be perched on my sofa carefully planning his attack, knife in hand, poised and ready for action. As I finally get the courage to pry myself from my bed, I put one foot one the ground, then the other. BUT WAIT. I suddenly become aware that at any terrifying moment some cold, unfeeling hand could slowly reach itself out from somewhere deep under the bed and calmly wrap its dead fingers around my ankles and never let go! So I make a run for it. All the while I'm sure the creepy man in the corner of my room is menacingly chuckling to himself as he observes my peril. Then I reach my next obstacle: the mirror. I must pass this dreaded mirror in the dark on my way to the closet. If I even dare to glance into it, sheer horror will surely await me! Any second a sadistic spirit could swoop in and place itself upon my shoulders...or even worse, a wayward little girl could suddenly appear in the mirror, and as I'd turn around she would whisper something and the utter terror that would overcome me would be enough to paralyze my vocal cords. Finally, after a few more fleeting moments, I make it to the closet door. If I ventured to do such a thing like open it, I would most certainly meet my demise. A bloody ax-murderer would be anxiously awaiting me on the other side! Or what if I was met with a pile of rotting corpses? Regardless, I flick the switch and the mission is, at last, accomplished. I sprint back to the safety and comfort of my bed, and my pulse starts to return to a more stable state.

The mind can be a very irrational, bizarre thing in the midst of the dark night--every little sound can make a person uneasy, one thing leads to another, and the fears become so absurd you don't even know what's gotten into you! These thoughts are silly and unreasonable, but still. You never know...