The Smiling Man at the Foot of My Bed by Noah Love

Tonight, there was a man in my room. He appeared when I turned out the lights. He wasn’t there before. And then he was. Crouched at the foot of my bed. Smiling

It’s just his white eyes. His dark pupils. Always looking at me. His teeth are glowing in a big smile as he stares at me. The whites of his eyes pronouncing the void of his pupils as their darkness looks unblinkingly at me. Ready to welcome me into bed.

I don’t mind him. I get lonely sometimes. Especially at night. I crawled under the sheets and looked down back at the foot of my bed. And he was still there. Smiling.

I smiled back at him and lay into my pillow. I didn’t stay awake long. It was odd for me. Normally I can’t sleep. I sit there. I stare into the darkness. Sometimes I cry. But tonight I didn’t. I just fell asleep as he watched me. Smiling.

When I awoke, light poured in through the window. I looked at the foot of my bed. He wasn’t there anymore. I was sad to see him go. I felt the loneliness creep into me again. My foot had bled slightly in the night. I wasn’t sure why. But I’d need to wash my sheets. At least they’d be fresh for if he came back. I hoped he would

– – –

The man came back tonight. I turned out the light as soon as I could. And there he was. Back at the foot of my bed. Smiling. I hoped he appreciated the clean linen.

It made me smile back to have a friend. I slipped under the sheets. I felt calm to know someone else was there with me. It gets so lonely here.

I felt a sharp tingle at my foot. I looked down. I could see the man, holding long, sharp tendrils I think were his fingers on my foot. They weren’t moving anymore once I looked. But I could feel them moving when I looked away. It was nice to have someone care. Someone who would caress my sore feet like that. Even if it hurt, it was nice to have feeling.

I fell asleep to the feeling of the tendrils of flesh scraping against my foot. When I awoke, the sun had risen, and the man was gone again. I looked down. The sheets were covered in blood again. I wasn’t sure I could get the stains out this time. I washed out the long slits of skin peeled open on my foot, stinging at the unfamiliarity of the fresh open air.

I missed him already. I hoped he’d come back again.

– – –

I closed the curtain this time. I put on my favorite night robes. I was so hoping to see him again. As I turned out the light, there he was. Smiling.

I was so happy. My first friend. I crawled into bed. I looked down at him. His teeth curled up so high as he looked at me. I could tell he was happy to have a friend too.

I pulled back the blankets to my side. I patted the mattress. You can come up if you want, I told him. Sleep with me, friend. You don’t have to stay down there.

He didn’t move. He just sat there. Smiling.

I don’t think he likes moving in front of me. He’s shy I suppose. That’s okay. I am too sometimes.

I rolled over and put the sheet over my eyes. I could let him come up on his own. After a while, I felt pressure on the mattress next to my leg. I looked down. A long, branch stalk looked like it had bent, falling on my bed. I think it must be his arm. He was climbing up to me. I was so thrilled. He was smiling. I smiled back.

I awoke a few hours later. He’d climbed closer to me. I could almost touch his face. Smiling inches away. I didn’t want to bother him.

I have to get up now, I’m sorry friend. But you can still stay here. I got up and went towards the light. Please stay this time, I promise it’s ok. But when I turned on the light, he was gone again.

I cried as I cleaned out the carved out skin on my calf.

– – –

It was night again. The room was dark. And there he was again. His long, tree like limbs stretching into the bed. Welcoming me. Smiling.

I lied down next to where he was climbing. I smiled back at him. I couldn’t hear his breathing. I hoped he was alright.

I woke in the middle of the night. He must’ve climbed all the way into the bed finally. I could feel him pressed up against me. I could feel his teeth against the back of my head. Smiling.

I heard crackling. Pops and breaks, like his arms were shattering. The bark of a young tree cracking apart in a storm. I couldn’t turn my neck. I could barely move. I just hoped he was alright. But I could still feel him smiling.

– – –

I’d forgotten to close the curtains tonight. The light poured in and the man was gone again. I had bruises across my chest and neck. I couldn’t think where they may have come from. I’d never been particularly clumsy.

I closed the curtain almost immediately. I hoped he would come back again tonight. He wouldn’t have to be scared and leave again in the morning.

Tonight, I will be waiting in the room for the light to fade and for him to be there. Smiling.

Maybe this time he’ll take me with him.

Noah Love

Image – Pixabay.com – a bed with rumpled white linen.