Disclaimer: They're not mine. I forget who owns them, but it's definitely not me. Something to do with some kind of Reptile, I think...
Into That Good Night
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
(Dylan Thomas)
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Chapter Two: Dark Is Right
You know when you're lying in bed, and you're in that grey area where you're not quite asleep, but you're also not awake? Well, that's where I was when it happened.
I'd been in bed for around forty-five minutes when I first heard the noise. My time in the military has trained my senses to be ever aware - even when sleeping. So you can probably imagine my eyes suddenly snapping open and my hearing becoming very alert as I realised there was something *very* wrong.
Someone was in the room with me.
Despite having been in my bedroom for some time, I had immediately tried to sleep and therefore my eyes hadn't been given the chance to adjust to the darkness. So for all intents and purposes, I was as blind as a bat. Panic began to seep into me as I heard the noise again, but this time it was closer. A strange, scratching sound that could never be justified by Schroedinger, my well-travelled cat. Having said that, it wasn't just the noise that had alerted me to this intruder.
I could actually *smell* him.
My senses were assaulted with the strange, overpowering odour of masculinity combined with something I couldn't quite place. It surrounded this intruder and I felt like I couldn't breath. My heart was beating wildly in my chest and I began to feel dizzy. Strangely enough for someone with my history, I had never suffered a panic attack before and it was truly a terrifying experience.
Forcing myself to act professionally, I concentrated on slowing my breathing and clearing my head, then I weighed up my options. As far as I figured, I had three choices. Either I jump out of bed as quickly as possible and run for the door in the dark; I pretend to still be asleep and jump them off guard, or I talk to whoever was here and try to stop them doing whatever they had come to do.
I realised pretty quickly that owing to my moment of panic, there was no way in hell the 'person' would think I was still asleep, so the element of surprise was definitely out. It was also incredibly likely that they had been there long enough to allow their eyes to adjust, and they could see me a lot better than I could see them, so bolting for the door would be a waste of time.
Many times I have thought about investing in a personal handgun, but I never got around to buying one. I think part of the reason behind my procrastination is my knowledge of what happened to the Colonel's son. I know my situation is different, and it's very rare that I have any minors in the house, but still I think I would feel uneasy knowing there was such a lethal weapon in my home.
Notwithstanding wishing I had something to protect myself with that night, I still hold to the fact that guns are dangerous when they get into the wrong hands. Imagine if someone had broken into my home and found it. I think it's bad enough knowing someone has been going through your personal belongings, but it would be so much worse if they get hold of a gun. Despite the amount of times I've been forced to fire upon the enemy, I don't think I could live with the prospect of some innocent person dying at the hands of my weapon.
However, as you can imagine, my thoughts at that moment in time were somewhat contradictory.
Deciding quickly that my only viable option was to talk to the intruder, I took a deep, steadying breath, turned over, and faced my destiny.
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If you like it, I'll write more. Just let me know...
Into That Good Night
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
(Dylan Thomas)
---------------------------------------------------------
Chapter Two: Dark Is Right
You know when you're lying in bed, and you're in that grey area where you're not quite asleep, but you're also not awake? Well, that's where I was when it happened.
I'd been in bed for around forty-five minutes when I first heard the noise. My time in the military has trained my senses to be ever aware - even when sleeping. So you can probably imagine my eyes suddenly snapping open and my hearing becoming very alert as I realised there was something *very* wrong.
Someone was in the room with me.
Despite having been in my bedroom for some time, I had immediately tried to sleep and therefore my eyes hadn't been given the chance to adjust to the darkness. So for all intents and purposes, I was as blind as a bat. Panic began to seep into me as I heard the noise again, but this time it was closer. A strange, scratching sound that could never be justified by Schroedinger, my well-travelled cat. Having said that, it wasn't just the noise that had alerted me to this intruder.
I could actually *smell* him.
My senses were assaulted with the strange, overpowering odour of masculinity combined with something I couldn't quite place. It surrounded this intruder and I felt like I couldn't breath. My heart was beating wildly in my chest and I began to feel dizzy. Strangely enough for someone with my history, I had never suffered a panic attack before and it was truly a terrifying experience.
Forcing myself to act professionally, I concentrated on slowing my breathing and clearing my head, then I weighed up my options. As far as I figured, I had three choices. Either I jump out of bed as quickly as possible and run for the door in the dark; I pretend to still be asleep and jump them off guard, or I talk to whoever was here and try to stop them doing whatever they had come to do.
I realised pretty quickly that owing to my moment of panic, there was no way in hell the 'person' would think I was still asleep, so the element of surprise was definitely out. It was also incredibly likely that they had been there long enough to allow their eyes to adjust, and they could see me a lot better than I could see them, so bolting for the door would be a waste of time.
Many times I have thought about investing in a personal handgun, but I never got around to buying one. I think part of the reason behind my procrastination is my knowledge of what happened to the Colonel's son. I know my situation is different, and it's very rare that I have any minors in the house, but still I think I would feel uneasy knowing there was such a lethal weapon in my home.
Notwithstanding wishing I had something to protect myself with that night, I still hold to the fact that guns are dangerous when they get into the wrong hands. Imagine if someone had broken into my home and found it. I think it's bad enough knowing someone has been going through your personal belongings, but it would be so much worse if they get hold of a gun. Despite the amount of times I've been forced to fire upon the enemy, I don't think I could live with the prospect of some innocent person dying at the hands of my weapon.
However, as you can imagine, my thoughts at that moment in time were somewhat contradictory.
Deciding quickly that my only viable option was to talk to the intruder, I took a deep, steadying breath, turned over, and faced my destiny.
---------------------------------------------------
If you like it, I'll write more. Just let me know...