Courage Despite Fear: Andrew's Scandinavian Adventure

I never knew I could be this scared.

I still can't believe it myself, but you'd think I'd get used to this.

Every night, they came by and stalked my house. They always wore black suits and hats, and their shades hid the colour of their eyes. Sometimes they would wave at me without saying a word, and sometimes they would just stand there and stare at me.

I tried to call the police, but they just waved me away. They said there was nothing wrong with me and that I was just imagining things.

That's why I know they must be evil!

But I got used to them. It's not like they did anything bad to me.

They didn't even try to break into my house. Not once.

Until tonight.

I was in my room, reading a book until I fell asleep, when a loud noise woke me up. It sounded like when you throw a rock at a window, but amplified a thousand times.

Then, a loud bang.

Then another bang.

Then another.

I ran to the window.

The street was dark, like always.

I leaned closer to the window and stared at the road, trying to find out where the noise came from.

There.

A black car, its lights off like always, was parked on the side of the road.

I went back to my bed.

I couldn't sleep.

I tried to read, but I just couldn't concentrate.

I tried to play a game on my phone, but I couldn't stop thinking about what could be happening outside.

I decided to go downstairs and drink some water.

I opened the door carefully, so as not to wake up my parents.

I walked to the kitchen and grabbed a glass, then filled it with water.

As I was walking back to my room, I heard a weird noise.

It sounded like...

The sound of a key turning inside a lock.

I froze.

Someone was inside my house.

I wanted to scream, but the words got stuck in my throat.

I wanted to run, but my legs were glued to the floor.

There was only one thought running through my mind:

Please, Lord, don't let them see me.

Someone grabbed my shoulder.

I screamed.

"Andy? Are you okay?"

It was Dad.

I turned around and hugged him weakly.

"Jesus, you gave me a heart attack!"

He took my hand and led me to the living room.

"What are you doing here?"

"I... I couldn't sleep."

"You should've called me. I would've come and slept with you."

"I didn't want to wake you up."

"Well, look who's awake now. Let's sit and watch TV until you fall asleep again."

He switched the light on and sat next to me on the couch.

We watched an episode of Two Broke Girls and laughed together.

I finally fell asleep with a smile on my face.

I woke up the next day with a smile on my face too.

Dad was already awake.

He smiled at me when I entered the kitchen.

"Good morning, Andy. Did you sleep well?"

"Yes, thanks to you."

"That's good. Why don't you go take a shower, and we'll have breakfast together?"

I nodded and went upstairs.

I took a quick shower and got dressed.

I went downstairs and found Dad in the same spot he was sitting yesterday.

He wasn't looking at the TV anymore.

"Dad?"

"Andy, shouldn't you be in school?"

My smile faded away.

I grabbed my backpack and walked to the door.

"I'm going to be late. I gotta go."

"Take your time, Andy. We still have 10 minutes before you're supposed to leave."

I opened the door and stepped outside.

As soon as I did, someone grabbed my shoulder.

I screamed.

"Dad? What are you doing here?"

He grabbed my hand and led me inside.

"I know you're afraid of strangers, so I thought it would be better if I waited for you outside."

I went back to the living room and sat on the couch.

Dad went to the kitchen and brought back two plates with scrambled eggs.

"Here are your eggs. Aren't they delicious?"

I nodded and ate.

"Andy? Are you okay?"

"Yes, thanks to you."