It Was Waiting

I didn’t ask why the house had been empty for so long. I should have. The first night,

I woke up and every hallway light was on. I know I turned them off.

I always do. A few days later, I started hearing footsteps upstairs. Not running.

Not heavy. Slow. Careful. Like whoever it was didn’t want

to be heard. I told myself it was the house settling. Old homes make noise. That’s what people

say when they’re scared. Then I noticed the spare room door was open.

I never go in there. The room was warm. Unnaturally warm. On the floor were two plates.

One with crumbs. One with a half-empty bowl of water. That night, I locked my bedroom