Category : Books-Fiction

Sub Category : Horror

        The tea kettle began to sing its loud pitch informing the world it was ready, until Karen lifted it up and off the burner. She poured two cups of her favorite Earl Grey with a single sugar cube in each. Other than the fact it was a common courtesy to make tea when having guests, she sipped it as if it was a much needed treat for a long day of work getting the house together. She sat down on the couch, and leaned on her sister. 
        “I love what you’ve done with everything here,” said Cathy. “It has that same feel as when we were kids, but with a more modern look.”
        Karen glanced around once more at her work and smiled. “Thank you sis. And thanks for coming by, you know I can’t stand being alone in a place for long.”
        “Who can? Anyway, it’s the least I could do after what you’ve been through. And you won’t be alone for long, you’ll find someone else who deserves you.”
        “Oh, I don’t think another man is what I want. I’d like to just be alone and forget about everything. To never think of it again.”
        “Nonsense, you will find someone that will treat you like the angel you are. But until then, remember, you will always have your lil’ sister here for you.”
        “Thanks Cathy. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
        Karen lifted up her head, kissed her sister’s shoulder and put her head back where it had been. She had always loved her sister and had always gone to her whenever she was going through hard times. Sometimes it felt as if she were the younger one, looking up to her older sibling for guidance. 
        After an hour of chatting while rearranging the living room, kitchen and foyer, Karen looked at her watch, yawning. It was the watch Jim had given her for some holiday she couldn’t, or rather wouldn’t, remember. She took it off and tossed it in the garbage bin. 
        She thanked her sister again for coming by to help, but insisted she had better go to bed. It had been a long day and tomorrow would be much of the same. 
        “It was no problem Kat, I’ll be back tomorrow for a full day of tidying up.”
        “You better,” Karen teased. 
        After her sister left, Karen walked into the kitchen to put up the tea cups and kettle. She looked out the window over the sink and watched the red taillights make their way down the winding driveway. The lights had lit-up part of the bumper, making what looked like a menacing smile. It was then, Karen realized she was out in the country, alone at night. 
        She started her breathing exercise then closed her eyes, as if it would magically banish any horrible thoughts. But, it did just that. 
        
        Up in the upstairs bathroom, the faucet water quickly became warm after she turned it to wash her face. It was her nightly ritual after turning off all the lights. 
        The bathroom was rectangular with the bathtub on one end and the sink in the middle, directly across from the door. Above the sink was a medicine cabinet stocked with painkillers, antidepressants, anything to take away the physical and psychological pain she suffered. 
        She closed the cabinet and looked at her reflection in its outside mirror. 
        “What am I gonna do?” she whispered to herself. 
        Beside her face, a small silhouette stood in the adjacent room behind her in the darkness. She could make out a head and broad shoulders, She jumped and turned around in fright trying to see who it was. 
        It was gone. 
        A hat rack had taken its place. 
        Karen’s heart felt like it was going to burst, believing she saw someone standing there. But after seeing it was nothing, she closed her eyes, thinking she just needed to sleep, and left it at her tired eyes playing tricks on her. 
        Karen turned the bathroom light off and got into bed. She was glad she remembered to unpack the book she had been reading, but then realized she was too exhausted to read. She put down the book, turned off the light and shut her eyes.