My Guardians

Don't do it. Don't do it. I sit there in the middle of my bed. Mother will come in soon to help me say my prayers and then tuck me in. I hear her walking around above. My brothers finish their prayers and her footsteps make the stairs creak. Don't do it. Now she enters my room. My cold, unwelcoming room. 

With my prayers done she tucks me in. Don't do it. The lights are turned out and her hand goes to the door knob. 

"No Mom please!!" A sob catches in my throat. "It's so dark with the door closed!" I blink away tears. 

"You can't be afraid forever Baby," A soft and warming smile is on her lips. The cold of the room keeps that warmth from blessing me. 

"Please," I beg. The covers are no longer tucked in around me. Sitting in the middle of the bed allows me to see the light from outside my room.

"Good night," with those words she seals my tomb. The door closes and the only light I have is from the frowning moon outside my window. The floor creaks and my eyes widen in vain to see. A shape darker than the blackness of my room is moving slowly around. 

Those tears slip down my cheek and I move with a fear that I can't control. The covers now are covering me; a small barrier. Breathing commences as this figure moves closer. I need help, but I can't call out. So I pray like Mother taught me. Please.... please! I'm so scared.

The door that sticks to it's frame causing it to be so hard to open, budges. The breathing stops and the shape wavers into the shadows. Yet at another slam on the door I know it is not Mother. The rattling of the door handle is silent. Who doesn't use door handles? Fear rises in my chest drowning me. 

The covers hide my face as once more the door is urged to open with a slam. One more time and it swings open. A soft light touches the covers. I know it is no use to try and silence my breath that now comes out in sobs. 

More than one thing leaps onto my bed and I might faint in dread. The covers by my face are pulled at. It is trying to get me. "You can't be afraid forever Baby," Mother's words give me courage. As another wave of tears go down my cheeks I let the covers go. 

Warm green eyes stare into mine. A deep rumble comes from the creature and it rubs it's face against mine before licking at my tears.

The tuxedo cat curls up next to me as my tears come to an end. God has sent me a guardian. My two other cats take their own places; one by my feet and the other on my side. 

The door will stay open all night, the monsters will be kept at bay, and I will never fear again.