House

I’m home alone — the door is closed, The house is quiet… more than most, The walls don’t move, the windows stare, Is someone here… or just the air? A sound outside — I look around, Near the fence… I hear a sound, I grab the key, check the lock, Someone’s there? — I hear a knock I ring the bell — no one’s there, Just the garden… empty air In the house — room to room, Something’s moving in the gloom, Up the stairs or down below, Where it is… I don’t know In the kitchen — something fell, In the living room — I hear a bell, The door moves slow… the floorboard creaks, Is someone here… or does it speak? The window shakes, the ceiling sighs, I turn around — no one in sight Up the stairs — step by step, To the bedroom — hold my breath, The door is open… just a bit, I push it slow… and look in it No one there — just the bed, But I feel something… in my head Down below — the basement calls, Dark and cold behind the walls, I take a step… then one more, Something moves behind the door Up above — the attic tight, A shadow passes… out of sight Every room, every space, Every sound I try to trace, From the roof down to the floor, Something’s here… I’m almost sure Wait… A sound again… Closer now… I turn around — what do I see? A little cat… looking at me It runs away across the floor, Through the house and out the door In the house — now I know, It was nothing… just a show, Up the stairs and down again, I feel safe… inside my den The door is closed, I take a breath, No more fear, no more stress, From the key to every room, This house is mine… no more gloom