The sky is clear of all obstructions, the stars are shining brightly, the temperature is hovering somewhere between 70 and 80 degrees, and the breeze is light and warm. Crickets serenade me as I wander out of my middle class neighborhood and onto the dark roads surrounding it.
Nothing to worry about, unless you're afraid of squirrels. Nobody ever walks - or drives - along here at 2am. Ever.
I never go far either. Just down that one darkened street and over a block or so to the park where I climb the old oak that leans precariously over the river - which isn't really a river, it's more like a large stream.
Then I stretch out on my back on the largest branch and stare through a conveniently placed gap in the leaves up at the heavens above me.
Very peaceful. Very inspiring. I've written some great poems as I gazed up at the stars. Clears my head just like that.
I usually lay there for hours without worrying about anything. Sort of like driving, but without the speed and the constant stream of thoughts that take over my brain waves. When I'm out on that branch my mind is crystal clear.
But tonight I can't ignore a nagging feeling that is making itself very obnoxious as it tugged at my soul from the bottom of the pit of my stomach.
You those twinges, the ones where all of the sudden you feel like something's going to happen - a bad thing - or that something is already happening.
That's the nagging feeling that won't let me be.
I felt oddly uneasy as I lay on that familiar branch, stargazing. There was something evil and wrong going on... but I didn't think that I was in any danger. Yet at least.
Eventually the feeling over powered me and I began to walk home, feeling very vulnerable in the darkness. My sudden fear was profoundly disturbing.
I don't think that I've been happier to come home in all the times I've stepped through that front door in my life.
'Doesn't look like Josh is home yet,' I thought, noticing his empty bed which was visible through his open bedroom door as I crept upstairs into my own bed where sleep finally claimed me.
chapter 10