Gladys

Tunk!

Something hit her window. A befuddled bug, probably. It was very early, the window a pearly gray square. The night had been cool and she pulled the covers up over her head.

She didn’t want to wake up. She’d been dreaming she was lost in thick, gloomy woods, stumbling over roots and rocks for what seemed forever, until she spied a light among the trees. She tried to find her way to it, but it kept disappearing in the thickets, only to peek out again, shining even brighter. At last, bone-tired, she came to the mouth of a cave. Chilled as she was, warm as the golden light pouring out appeared, could she trust it? The cave was so deep, she couldn’t tell where it ended, or if it ended at all. What if this was the home of a child-eating monster? What if the cave was so deep, she’d get lost and never find her way out?

In the way of dreams, and sometimes real life, the next thing she knew she was inside. The golden light grew arms, strong but gentle arms that wrapped her snug and safe. A voice whispered things she couldn’t understand, but as the light warmed her, the whisper spun itself into a single word.

Found.

She squeezed her eyes shut, hating to let the dream go.

Tunk. There it was again. That bug was going to knock itself out.

She lifted her head. A ray of real-life golden light finagled its way between her curtains.

Tunk.

Then.

A bark like nails rattling in a metal bucket.

She threw off the covers and flew to the window.