Travis Martin Martin 1
Ms. Virginia Rachel
English Comp. 101
09/15/2015
The Hero in the Night
What goes bump in the night? A question kids will forever eerily ask themselves as they lay down at night. The dark corner of the room, what's underneath of the bed or who or even what is lurking behind the closet door. There's just something unsettling about what we cant see. The minute the lights dim my mind begins to wonder about what could possibly be gleaming at me from its hiding spot, waiting for its chance to pounce on me like a defenseless animal on the plains of Africa. Overcoming your fears isn't always easy, but facing them head on is the only way to feel comfortable in a situation that once made you uncomfortable.
This night was like every other. As the night draws to an end, mom and dad yell its time for bed. After years of sleeping with a night light, I start to feel brave. I mean what can honestly be so frightening, and also be afraid to shows its self in the dim glare of my little night light. After finishing my nightly routine, brushing the teeth and saying my prayers, I reach over and turn out my night light that I found so much comfort in. Laying in bed thinking of everything that I need to accomplish for the next day and practicing lines for the few girls that caught my attention I start to doze off.
Tossing and turning throughout the night I find myself awake at exactly 1:30. It is then I realize the mistake I've made. The glow of hope that usually coax me back to my sweet dreams is no longer there. To scared of what might be accompanying me in the room I lay still like a stick in the woods. The eerie silence that is shared with the darkness is chilling. But, suddenly I hear a rustling coming from what seems like my closet. Although I want to jump from my bed and run for help, I am to scared of what is waiting on me to present myself in the open. My mind racing I try to think of things that bring me joy, anything that will make me forget the beast in my closet.
The more I try the less effective ignoring the sounds of hell rising in my closet to come and take me. I'm so blind with fear now that I start to hear more noises. Scratching of nails on the walls? Little voices whispering through the cracks of the door. I hide under my comforter for safety. For a minute I feel safe, no one can get me under my blanket. My brief feeling of security disappears as the noises return like a radio regaining signal after riding through a tunnel. I decide its time to take a stand!
Overcome with adrenaline I began to shake a little and yell out, leave me alone! The noises continue to no avail. After what seemed like hours of torture from this demon in my closet I am fed up. I decide that I am going to be more aggressive in my desire to rid my room of this bully. Stealthily I roll out of my bed as if I were a navy seal on a classified mission, and make my way from my bed to the doors of my closet. I count to five calmly in my head to brace my self for war with this evil being. I flip the switch to the lights in the closet and clinching my fists ready to go to war with the wicked soul I swing the doors to hell open. Nothing? Mixed emotions run through my head. Relieved there is no danger but also curious of what held me captive in my bed for what seemed like a life time. I lean closer to the walls of the closet, suddenly I can make out the noises. My sister the night owl, is up again listening to her music, and pretending she is Shania Twain as she recites every line and moves carelessly throughout her room as if it were a dance studio. Exhausted from my battles with and after a small chuckle I realize there is nothing in my room but me, and can lay back down on my cloud of comfort and enjoy my rest.
The next day as I stand in the shower cleansing my body for the day ahead and thinking of the horrors of the night before I become conscious of the fact the I've overcome my fear of the night. I stood tall and faced my anxiety of not knowing. Although I took me being very uncomfortable and a little assistance of an unsung hero, my sisters late night karaoke session helped, along with my bravery, me overcome my fear of the dark.