My eyes flew open. My heart pounded wildly. I had been jerked from a sound sleep by a noise in my room…my hotel room…which had a deadbolt and a second latch to prevent entry from the outside. How could I hear something in my room?
In the darkness, I listened for a repeat of the sound. Nothing. But going back to sleep was not an option. I had to know what had awakened me.
Bravely I uncovered my legs, sat up and placed my feet on the floor. So far so good. Gathering all my courage, I shuffled my way the length of the room to the bathroom. In a flash of bravery I flicked on the light, my eyes like lasers seeking the intruder.
Nothing.
Had I been dreaming? Couldn’t remember having one. But that vivid?
Using the light from the bathroom, I retraced my steps to the bed, which was right by the door. There was a strip of light shining under the door. And in that illumination I saw the culprit…the reason for my terror.
The two-page bill for my stay had been shoved under the door. It lay there, in all its innocence, my fearsome intruder.
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