Insomnia

Noah woke with a start. Heart pounding in his chest, he looked around, trying to figure out what had ripped him from his sleep. He reached over to the nightstand and took his phone to check the time. Three thirty-four.

Damn.

Next to him, his wife was sleeping soundly. After twisting and turning for several minutes, he knew that his night was over. Silently he got out of bed and walked into the kitchen to make himself a coffee, not bothering to turn on the light.

In the dark, he stumbled over a toy one of the kids had left lying around the day before.

While he was waiting for the coffee machine to do its thing, he looked out the window. It looked tranquil out there at this time of night. So at odds with the restless feeling inside him.

A movement caught his eyes. The neighbours across the street coming home at this hour? No, they weren’t the neighbours. But these people definitely were on the way to their house. Something about them made him uneasy.

For a moment he debated with himself, almost turning away. It was none of his business. But he couldn’t take his eyes from the scene out there. They didn’t really act suspicious, but there was something about them that suggested they didn’t want to be seen. The house was dark, but Noah saw the front door open, and the strangers entered. Was it opened from the inside, or did they pick the lock?

Should he call the cops? The neighbours were a bit strange, to say the least. They’d moved into the house about six months ago, and nobody had seen much of them since. They pretty much kept to themselves. Practically unheard of in this neighbourhood where everyone knew everybody.

What if he called the cops and the strangers were just visiting? Granted, it was an odd time for that, but then again…

Not quite sure what had come over him, he decided to go and have a look before making any decisions. He pulled on a jacket over his sleeping pants and t-shirt and stepped outside, careful not to slam the door.

Quickly he crossed the street, feeling like a stalker and a hero at the same time. He looked through the windows at the front of the house. Nothing. All was quiet. There was not a light on anywhere. Had he imagined it all?

Walking around to the back, he peeked in, and what he saw made his heart pound in his chest. He knew he shouldn’t watch, but he couldn’t tear his eyes away. His emotions were running wild in him. He was intrigued and horrified at the same time. Repulsed and overcome with the need to join in.

Lost in time, he didn’t know how long he stood there watching.

Noah woke with a start. Next to him, his wife was sleeping soundly. He checked the time. It was three thirty-four in the morning.