Cory pushed off the blanket and shivered as the chilly draft from the air conditioner penetrated her flimsy nightgown. She wondered whether the aircon was the reason for her recent migraines, especially at night. Or was she coming down with the flu? Again?
She plodded towards the bathroom, paused before the switch, and decided not to turn on the light. The faint illumination filtering through the window cast a calming glow upon the space. She felt a wave of relief as she sat on the cold toilet seat and relieved herself.
With her head nestled in her hands, she drifted into a drowsy state. Time stretched and blurred, an indeterminate period of restful tranquillity enveloping her. Yet, just as her fatigue began to consume her, her head sank forward, jolting her abruptly awake, as if some dark force had yanked her from the depths of sleep.
Alamak?, I went to sleep on the darn toilet bowl? Crap!
She laughed aloud as she pushed the flush lever and then dragged herself back to the bedroom.
Must crank up the thermostat.
Must not sleep on the toilet seat.
Must drink some water.
She waddled to the kitchen and picked up the steel water bottle; a stray beam of light streaming in through the window glinted off the bottle cap and made it look like a spacecraft with pilots ready to lift off.
Just as she was about to take a swig, she heard a scurrying sound that made her freeze in fright.
Hesitantly, Cory switched on the kitchen light.
Is that a rat?
A roach?
A lizard?
A ghost?
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