A Nightmare In My Space

A few weeks ago, I had an experience that changed my whole outlook on being alone. My space was invaded! It was early in the evening, around 7:15 PM; I was resting in my room watching television. The lights were off with just a candle burning to help me relax.

All at once, there was a loud banging at the inside basement door. I jumped up as if given an electric shock. I unbolted my door and stepped into the hall, just in time to hear the loud bang of the basement door opening with force and a strangely familiar voice telling the dog to shut up. I knew that I was the only one at home. However, my intruder didn't realize that I was at home from school, sick. I went back into my room and bolted the door again as fast as possible.

I began to panic and pace the floor like an expectant father. I picked up the phone to dial a number so I could talk to someone and find out what to do. After a long moment of misdialing and listening to the intruder go through drawers on the first floor, I finally dialed 911. Although I had laryngitis, I managed to whisper to operator that someone was in my house. She dispatched an officer to come immediately I quickly proceeded to call my aunt, who is my closest relative. However, my hands shook so much that it took me a minute to dial a number that usually only takes me two seconds to dial. In a hushed, shaky whisper I managed to tell her that someone was in the house and I thought that it was Tom, a former boarder.

By this time, my intruder was upstairs and across the hall for me, going through drawers. I was sitting by the window, watching for the police, my aunt, or him to leave. After what seemed to be an hour of silence, but was actually only about five minutes, the police arrived. My intruder fled down the stairs, and moments later so did I.

Running to the door cautiously, I let the police in and informed them that the man was still in the house. The police ran through the house with their guns in hand. The next thing I heard was an officer shouting, "come out of there before I blow your head off." At this point, my heart was beating faster than a clock ticking seconds. I turned my head and saw him, Tom, the man who used to rent a room in the basement of the house. I went numb! I could no longer feel my heart beating. The pain that had been in my chest was no longer there. I was upset, crying I couldn't breathe.

Suddenly, an officer was helping me up off the floor. The police were questioning me, and all I wanted was that man at my house! After a long period of time, my aunt and cousin finally arrived. Finding comfort in my aunt's arms and my cousins presence, I made it through the ordeal of questions hurled me by the police and paramedics.

Although it has been weeks and the initial shock is gone, I cannot sit alone in my room without pacing the floor and jumping in every noise. I don't know if I'll ever be able to make it through the night without having to talk to a friend or taking tranquilizers, but for now this is an experience that I'll not soon forget.

1988

Learn more about this author, Dl Bach.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Essays: Domestic violence?
We want to hear your view. Write now!