Someone’s at the Door

© PREACHER MAN by DELAFOI

There was someone at the door. I peeped through the keyhole, but I couldn’t see his face. He knocked once more with a soft “Hello” while pulling the handle. “You’re not wanted now,” I shouted through the hallway. “Please, open the door,” the voice echoed back.

I fell back into the room, gathering pillows and blankets for my fortress. “I’ll fight you to the death,” I mumbled proudly while cutting a sword from a cardboard box. With a plastic shield and my paper sword, I dared to take a few steps closer. I leaned down toward the letter drop. I listened. Waited. I could hear him breathing.

“I never left.”

“They warned me about you,” I said, “They told me you’d come back.”
“I never left,” the voice replied.

“I don’t want you here,” I said while raising my sword, “You’re not allowed.” I swung the paper blade at the door a few times before falling on my knees, opening the letter drop to get a glimpse.

“They’ve told me everything about you,” I said, “I’ll never let you in.”
“I don’t want to come in,” the voice replied, “I want you to come out.”