She hesitated in the doorway. The room beyond was night dark, and she fumbled for a light switch. Her groping fingers found only smooth door frame, but now her eyes grew accustomed to the shadows beyond. She gripped the cool wood, squinting into the unfamiliar space, unsure how she had come here.
Behind her, yellow light filled a long corridor. She had walked its length, driven by a sense that somewhere here answers could be found. She knew now that what she sought lay in the room beyond. If she dared cross the threshold.
She extended a foot into the gloom. An irridescent glow lit the shape of her winter boot. She startled, withdrew her foot. The glow faded. Frowning, she slowly raised the hand not gripping the comfort of the door frame and gave it to the darkness. More than luminous this time – her fingers tingled like the blood in them had warmed. She gasped at the sensation, knowing her earlier sense was right. Stepping into this room would bring understanding, realisation of who she was – and what she could be. Endless possibilities.
If she could take that step. If she could release her grasp on the solid reality of the door frame. Give herself to the shadows.
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SHE HESITATED IN THE DOORWAY
She hesitated in the doorway – surely that was an unfamiliar sound she had heard, or was it just her imagination.
Trudi wasn’t sure, and therefore reluctant to let go of the comparative safety of the door jamb.
Don’t be silly, girl, she chided herself, it can’t possibly be anything. Come on, go inside.
The house was dark. Trudi had left early for her dinner date and forgot to turn on any lights. Now that it was after midnight, the darkness took on a life of its own.
Trudi groped for the light switch just inside the front door and her home was instantly illuminated.
That was a grey shape disappearing into the kitchen, wasn’t it? Again, her imagination playing tricks.
A knife clattered on the stone floor. That was definitely not imagination.
“Who’s there?” she called out, her voice echoing with a much braver tone than she felt.
Trudi searched desperately for anything that would pass as a weapon and could only come up with an umbrella.
Clutching it tightly, she advanced slowly towards the kitchen and peered around the open doorway.
Nothing, no movement. No thief trying to steal the family jewels. If she had had any to steal, that is.
She moved onto the family room and lounge before checking each bedroom in turn. No one.
Scratching her head, Trudi returned to the kitchen to find the offending knife lying untouched where it had fallen.
How on earth had it got there, she wondered. To calm her jittery nerves, she boiled the kettle for a soothing cup of tea and was just reaching for a mug from the cupboard above her head when a solid lump landed on her shoulders.
Christ, Sam the cat. She had forgotten all about him in her rush to be on time for dinner.
The poor bloke must be absolutely starving.
“Come on, Sam,” she cooed, recovering from her fright. “You must be very hungry by now. Let’s get you something to eat.”
Thank you for the reminder of the word jamb! Also, poor kitty cat…:D
Love the mystique. What on earth is she getting into??
Who knows??