It was thumping away in my chest with such ferocity that I feared my heart may give in. Was I about to have a heart attack? I lay still for a moment until it slowed itself back down to a more sedate rhythm. I felt hot, sweaty, and scared. Some horrible nightmare had thrown me back into reality in a dazed and confused state. “I’m too old for these dreams,” I thought, “way too old.” Looking towards the window I tried to work out what time it was. The greyness told me that it was still too early to get up, so I pulled the covers off and lie naked on the now un-tucked bed sheet. I tried to push everything bad from my head, even though I knew I wouldn’t.
I lay there, listening to the smooth rhythm of the motorway traffic.
Sleep again...
No more dreams...
Sleep...
TAP TAP TAP.
My eyes open wide. I distinctly hear three taps against the wooden door of our bedroom. To me, it sounds like a coin tapping on wood. My heart is racing once again. I’m facing away from the door, but I know the room, I know that sound came from over near the bedroom door. I whisper to Lou B.
“You awake?”
No answer.
“Oi!”
Still no answer.
FUCK!
I roll over and face the door, expecting to see some shadowy form standing there or a ghostly figure, but there is nothing. My ears are straining for the slightest sound. I hear the occasional lorry whoosh past on the M3, but at the moment my ears would pick up a mouse turning a pebble over at two hundred metres.
No sounds...
The wind outside blows suddenly, and the curtains lift upwards just like in an old horror film. As the wind comes into the house the airing cupboard door moves ever so slightly.
TAP TAP TAP go the hinges as the door fights to close against them.
FUCK (again, this time smiling to myself).
I’m awake now, and get up to close the airing cupboard door so it doesn’t creak again. OK, nothing sinister there. Nobody tapping the door with a coin, just a squeaky door. I climb back into bed and pull the covers over me, at the same time reaching for my mobile phone. I press a random button and its friendly reassuring face lights up telling me the time: 02:59.
Years ago, when I was younger, I watched The Amityville Horror and it always stuck with me the time of night that the murders in the house happened: 03:15. Ever since, I’ve had a thing about the time between 2 and 3 am. If I’m going to wake during the night, chances are it’s between these times.
The witching hour.
I flick on the light on my side of the bed and the darkness is beaten back slightly. A book rests on the table next to the bed and I pick it up, opening it at a bookmark that is buried deep in its pages.
I might as well read for a while...
In the morning I’ll be tired, but I’m getting used to restless nights and a lack of sleep now.
Love it. I have a recurring half waking dream where brightly coloured spiders fall on top of me and I leap out of bed rummaging through the duvet trying to find it. Juliet is never amused.
ReplyDeleteI bought an Iphone app that records what you say in your sleep, it's pretty dam good.
Amityville Horror has a lot to answer for. Lovely bit of writing but I could relate a lot to this to as an insomniac. My other half can be completely out for the count but I'll be lying awake hearing everyday noises amplified. Good post.
ReplyDeleteI half expected a raven to come flapping noisily out of the shadows squawking, "Nevermore!"
ReplyDeleteI hate that creepy feeling. I usually wake several times during the night, and there always seems to be some sort of noise or movement somewhere in the house that's out to get me!
Hahaha....oh sorry that is not very nice. I had a similar experience a couple of years ago, which you may wish to check
ReplyDeletehttp://dansdirtbox.blogspot.com/2010/03/phantasm.html
This is eerie. I routinely woke up at 3am for years that it plagued me physically. I hope this isn't recurring for you as it was very exhausting to live with.
ReplyDeleteLove your new site.
I had the exact same sound waking me up a few nights ago! The fan oscillating in my bedroom 24\7, was making the slightly open airing cupboard door move. Can´t remember the time even though I checked my mobile at the time.
ReplyDeleteJim (selfdefenceblog) you’re my first ever comment from a someone I know in real life. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHappy Frog, I used to love horror films but avoid them at all cost now.
Nessa Roo, Yea, I’ve come to realise by these comments that I’m not the only one who has these problems at night.
Dan, I wouldn’t have expected anything else from you. Thanks for the comment and yes I did have a look at your link – great post.
Shopgirl, good to see you here. Thank you.
Hi Joe, Strange how you wouldn’t even notice it during the day, but in the early hours it takes on a whole new creepiness. Thanks for your visit.
I never used to have bad dreams, well, hardly ever. But these last few months I've had loads. I don't like it!
ReplyDeleteSorry you are suffering too, makes for good reading tho'!
The only witching hour I've experienced were those late afternoons when the kids were toddlers and they hadn't napped. Hell of all hells--those were tortuous witching hours.
ReplyDeleteBut, I have to admit, when my husband is travelling if I wake in the early morning hours I do feel a bit unsettled. Odd things do happen in the middle of the night.
I loved this post, Dicky. So well done. :)
Sub, sorry to hear that. As always dreams and nightmares are connected to whats going on in our own lives. Glad you enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteJayne, "Late afternoons with toddlers" - very funny. Thanks for the comment.