Polum Chill

It took me a couple of seconds to get back to the kitchen window and focus on the darkness outside.

My eyes weren't yet adjusted to the dark, so I couldn't see all the way to the back fence.

Turning off the kitchen light, I leaned over the counter and continued staring at the same point.

The other garden features began to fade into view one by one, fitting my previous mental image.

I wasn't sure what I wanted to see.

The darkness gave way to the familiar forms I knew, but after a while I was certain there still stood a figure against the back garden fence.

It hadn't moved.

I stood there for fifteen minutes looking at it.

I couldn't tell its shape properly, but it did look like someone standing there.

I decided it wasn't a threat.

I thought if I was in any real danger, I would have been a lot more worried by now.

And that thought kept me calm.

But I also wanted to find out what it was.

I couldn't stand there forever.

I jogged upstairs, picked up my laptop, and brought it down to the kitchen counter with me.

''Me.''

''Can you come around now?''

''Chris.''

''Oh?''

''Me.''