The night was silent and still, the only sounds were the chirping of crickets and the air was heavy and sleepy.

Three minutes to midnight.

Next to me, a sleepless bundle shuffled. A hand across my back.

"You awake?"

somewhere in the house, a faucet starts to drip, lonesome and sweet.

Two minutes to midnight.

The hand shook.

"Please wake up."

She moves restlessly again, disrupting the warmth of my room.

One minute to midnight.

"Please."

The air is suddenly cold, when she struggles to sit up, the windows smash open to the beginnings of a storm.

The clock chimes twelve. A haunting sound.

"Please. Please help me."