by Jennie Mc Donald

Created on: February 11, 2009

Shadows

I lay still in the darkness, the only noise to be heard was the whistling of the tall dark trees in the wind; they cast their shadows upon the window pane, swaying side to side. It was night, darkness had fallen, and lost amongst the blackened clouds was the glow of the full moon.

Almost hidden beneath the covers I watched as the shadows moved across my bedroom walls, jumping and dancing, almost calling to me.

I knew it was late, after twelve maybe, but I could not sleep for I knew the shadows of the trees were not to be the last shadows to enter my room. The same dark, cold shadow that entered nearly every night would soon be here. I'd tried to sleep, but it was almost impossible. I always hoped that when he entered my room I'd be asleep, for when I was, it made it all that more possible for me to pretend it was a dream, a nightmare really. Dreams weren't so harsh, cruel and cold, they didn't bring with them the pain that he did.

He was tall and dark like the trees, his eyes darkened like the cold black clouds. His skin was rough, unshaven and from his foul mouth came the stench of stale beer. He, too, more often than not, swayed from side to side like the trees, for he was usually drunk.

It was later now, much later than usual. I could feel myself drifting, drifting into what would be as always a broken sleep, and then suddenly the front door slammed shut. I leapt from my bed, every inch of my body shook, trembled even. Slowly I crept to the door. I opened it, but not much, just an inch or two. I couldn't let him see me, for like every other night I wished and hoped that he would not come, that he'd forget I was there or that he'd be too drunk even to remember. I saw the shadow turn the corner of the wall, down the long darken hallway. Quickly I shut the door. His callous voice echoed in my thoughts, his beady dark eyes, his smell, his touch even. It was then that I knew. That very second, I knew what I had to do.

I climbed back out of bed, slowly moving towards my window, and as I glared angrily up into the sky, I watched slowly as the moon reclaimed its rightful place. The darkened clouds moved fast, almost furiously, until the moon shone brighter still.

As I left my room, I knew I could never look back, I knew what was to happen this very night would change my life forever. And in knowing this I made a promise to myself - a promise that this would be the end.

Next to my room was our little Janie's. My thoughts were hers for all of five seconds,

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