The Habit of Locking

I live alone, which is why I am careful. Every night before bed I check

the locks front door windows closet bathroom. Last of all my bedroom door.

I locked it out of habit. Sometime after midnight I woke to a soft sound.

Scratching. Slow and deliberate like fingernails testing the wood. Scrape.

Pause. Scrape. I whispered Go away. The scratching stopped

instantly. The silence felt worse. My phone vibrated. Unknown Contact:

Why did you lock the door tonight? You never lock it.

I slowly turned my head. A shadow passed. Me: Who is this?