I feel you stand behind me, cool air tickles the fine hairs on my neck, goosepimples run down my bare arms. I can smell you, that funny mixture of cigarette smoke and the faint aroma of mildrew that now sickens me to the bone. Choosing to ignore you, I do not turn around, instead I continue with my errand and hope you go away. I am tired of confrontation.
With my chore finished, I go upstairs to run myself a bath. I need a long, bubbly soak to help me unwind before I can attempt sleep. Turning the redundant lock on the bathroom door out of habit rather than use, I begin to undress. Stepping into the swirling, steamy water, my anger begins to disappear and a sense of growing calm washes over me. I close my eyes and wallow in the peacecful scene.
Bang.
Bang.
BANG!
I sigh, my patience worn wafer thin. What are you doing now? I listen carefully to the muffled noises from the room below. I hear the lounge door slam shut.
'Thud, thud, thud, thud.' Heavy footsteps as you climb the stairs.
The floorboards outside the bathroom groan. I hold my breath with anticipation. You pass, continuing down the hallway. With relief, I sink slowly under the water. There, if only temporarily, I find cessation as my stresses slowly evaporate once again.
I can hardly recall the time when we first me and you were an enigma to me, fun and interesting, and during your more muted moments I thought I could cope having you around. But your boisterous and playful games soon became acts of rage and grew ever more frequent. I used to think, if I knew what was wrong during these black periods, these bouts of frantic and angry activity, I could help you somehow. Now I don't care.
The idea of you had excited me, made me feel alive. You were the topic of every discussion. Family and friends wondered how I put up with such a volatile creature but I was sure you were harmless, despite your often tumultuos nature. I was never a direct target. You had never hurt me, I believed you never would.
Now though, I am weary of you, annoyed at your disturbances, your late night antics...
And now, sometimes, your actions frighten me rigid.
I climb into bed. As I reach for my book on the side table the mattress begins to shake, a gentle vibration at first increasing to a violent shudder.
"You!" I shout.
"STOP IT! LEAVE ME ALONE!"
Repeating words read only the night before I scream "GO TO THE LIGHT!"
I pull the duvet over my head and count to one hundred. Maybe if I wish hard enough you will go to where you belong, Heaven, Hell, where ever, it doesn't matter anymore. Why you linger here I have no idea and I have given up trying to find out. I just want my house back, I just want quiet, I just want to be left alone.
As I hear the kitchen door slam and drawers being pulled out of their cupboards and tossed across the room I finally make the decision, in the morning, I'll phone the local Priest and have you removed once and for all.
rating: 14
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