It's midnight.
The dog barks, and I freeze, listening hard, neck stretched to prick unprickable ears...
I hear nothing.
Then another dog, down the road, barks too, and I relax, certain it was one of those mystery canine choruses.
I settle into my chair to give Viper a look... my lover asked me to see what I thought.
The sound from the television makes the silence of my sleeping house louder, thicker, deeper...
...and suddenly there are footsteps in my house.
The tread is stealthy... measured... purposeful...
...and I am afraid.
I cannot move.
I can't... breathe properly.
All I can do is think... There's no way out from here. If there's someone in the hall, I cannot get out without passing him.
I sweat.
Then the door curtain rattles and he comes into the room.
He walks to me, kneels down, and wraps me in a hug.
"Happy Valentine's Day, Love"
And I cling and cuddle him, trying to get my breath back, and I say....
"Scare the shit out of me, why don't you!"
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