Vacation had arrived, and I was going back to my hometown to rest for a while. Working downtown had drained what little energy my increasingly thin body had left. It was the perfect idea to return to the hometown I'd left behind so long ago. The last time I'd visited was three months ago. I'd had a major project to handle, so I couldn't come home.
Okay. Everything was ready. I'd packed my suitcase and everything inside it. All that was left was to leave!
Before I knew it, I'd arrived at my parents' house. They were thrilled that I'd finally come to visit and stay for three days. But to me, that was far too short. My mother told me to sleep in the main room for the time being because my bedroom had suffered a roof leak and couldn't be used. Unfortunately, repairs would take five days. It was fine. I accepted the decision. A thick mattress had already been prepared in the main room. I recognized it as the mattress from my bedroom. They'd moved it here after all.
Night had fallen. I was happy and exhausted after facing the day. I was about to rest on my thick mattress, but first I had to wash my face and brush my teeth.
It was so comfortable lying down and hugging my bolster pillow. I glanced around, taking in my parents' house, which held a small part of my memories. This main room wasn't large, but it felt spacious because there wasn't much furniture. From where I lay, I could see part of the living room, the door to my bedroom, my parents' bedroom door, and a window.
Wait, a window?
Oh no.
I remembered how, as a child, I had always been afraid whenever I saw that window at night. I couldn't remember why, but my cowardly younger self had definitely thought the window was creepy.
Ah, that was just a childhood story. I was an adult now, and I had a job. Why should I be afraid of something so trivial?
After setting my alarm, I hugged my pillow and closed my eyes.
One minute.
Two minutes.
I... couldn't sleep.
I felt something strange. Like there was...
...someone watching me.
You know how sometimes you can sense someone's presence nearby without seeing them directly? I felt it. There was someone to my left. But to my left was the window. The window I'd just thought was creepy.
I immediately rolled over to the right, away from the window. That strange sensation was really bothering me. After a while, I started feeling sleepy again. I didn't want to check the window, of course. I felt relieved enough knowing that it now had curtains covering it.
But that wasn't the end of it! I felt cold air blowing across my back. Even with a blanket over me, I could still feel it.
I was scared. What was I supposed to do? There was no way I could sleep in my parents' bedroom. My own bedroom obviously couldn't be used either. But I couldn't stay here!
Come on, think of something!
Ha, I had an idea. I wrapped the blanket around my body, held my pillow in both hands, then stood up and ran quickly to the living room, where I lay down on the sofa. The small sofa felt cramped, but it was more comfortable than the main room.
Well, I'd endure this cramped sofa rather than shiver all night.
The next morning, I woke up with aches all over my body. My father and mother stared in confusion as they saw me getting up from the sofa. I explained what had happened the night before.
"Cold?" my father said. My mother checked the window and pulled aside the curtain.
"Good grief, you forgot to close the window!" my mother exclaimed when she saw that one side of the window was open.
W-what? The window was open?
"You were probably cold because of the night wind. Don't forget to close the window next time."