Followed by the Silhouette

Chapter# 17

I rang the bell. I heard it chime, once, twice, thrice in my house. No reply. I stumbled off the front stoop and made my way to the back. The kitchen door was locked too. I knocked on it, loudly.

I pressed my forehead against the glass on the door and peered in.

She's not home, I realized.

I backed away from the door and darted around the steps. The window, it's open. I squeezed and dropped myself in on the sink. Everything stood in dark. The linoleum floor squeaked with my dirty sneakers.

I felt drowsy from the sleeplessness. I stepped up the stairs and leaning on the knob, I pushed the door open, all the way and just flopped on the inviting bed.

I awoke in the afternoon, feeling a little steadier. I hung my legs down. The air felt so suffocating. I traipsed past my dirty clothes, lying on the floor.

I brushed the sour taste from my mouth. Slapped the dirt off my face and neck and stared at my reflection awkwardly.

Is this me?

The split up lip. The swelled eye. The blood-smeared nos