She Sleeps – A short story

On November 4, 2025 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry80 Comments

An eerie high-pitched note whirls around in young Becky’s mind as she sleeps. The howling is earsplitting, wailing just outside her window, imitating a music score in a horror film. Not that she would know because she isn’t old enough to watch scary movies, but her six-year-old imagination tells her so. The trees fall into a trance like a spell has been cast upon them. Rocking back and forth, their branches bend in unnatural ways, the tips like long, pointed fingernails scratching on the double-paned window. The howling grates on her brain like a fork scraping a plate. Raindrops pound with anger. Becky tosses and turns. She fights to stay asleep. Subconsciously, she remembers Beauty and the Beast on the wall above her headboard, the best musical ever, and how she adores Belle. She’s carried to a happy place, slowing falling back into a deep slumber, but only temporarily…

The scratching escalates, faster and wilder! The wailing blares louder than fire sirens! With eyes scrunched closed, Becky covers her ears with both hands, hoping to mute the terror. She no longer tosses and turns because her body is paralyzed by fear. She can’t even move an inch, but she has to get out of bed! It’s coming for her! It will shatter her window and climb inside! Her legs may as well be blocks of cement, but with all her might, she swings her left leg over the side of her twin-sized bed, then her right leg. She is sitting up now but has to run! No time to waste! No time for shoes! Her bare feet must carry her down the hallway to save her parents! Suddenly, Becky hears glass shatter, shards scatter on her bubblegum pink comforter! She flies off her mattress, her legs sprinting out of the room!

For a second, Becky closes her eyes while her legs move at marathon speed, the hallway never seemed so long. And just when she reaches her parent’s doorway, arms bind around her tightly in boa fashion, squeezing the air from her lungs.

“Let me go! Let me go!” She screams loud enough to shake the roof! Her arms and legs fling sporadically, fighting off the huge monster with pointy fingernails!

“Becky, it’s Mom, wake up!” Linda gently shakes her daughter, sitting on the edge of her bed. Belle and the Beast watch from the lilac wall.

“Mom! It’s coming for us! We have to get Dad! We have to leave, now!”

“Oh, sweetheart, you had a nightmare. It’s storming outside, but the three of us are safe in the house. There’s nothing to be afraid of.”

“Oh, Mom, I was so scared! I hate the wind!” Becky manages through erratic sobs, hugging her mother, never wanting to let go.

“I don’t like it either,” Linda hugs her daughter back, loving the feel of her little girl safe in her arms. “But just close your eyes and know that Dad and I will protect you.”

And just like that, consoled by her mom, Becky lets go and rolls over onto her right side – exhaustion from the excitement finally kicking in. Her eyelids slowly close. Linda sits for a few minutes, watching her beautiful daughter fall into a peaceful sleep. Her blonde hair cascading across the fluffy pillow. Then Linda gently kisses her daughter on the forehead and quietly steps out of the room, but the earsplitting howling perpetuates. The storm isn’t due to pass for another ten hours.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com
I hope you enjoyed this revised story from a few years ago. ❤️

***Click on my daughter’s image to order your copy!*** 🧡

Lauren Scott
Author – King Copper: Our dog’s life in poetry
Author – Cora’s Quest (a children’s book)
Author – Ever So Gently: A Collection of Poetry
Author – More than Coffee: Memories of Verse and Prose
Author – Finding a Balance: A Collection of Poetry
Author – New Day, New Dreams: A Collection of Poetry
Co-Author – Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku
Co-Author – Petals of Haiku: An Anthology
Co-Author – This Is How We Grow
Co-Author – Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships
Bi-Monthly Contributor on Gobblers by Masticadores
Spillwords Author of the Month May 2023
Spillwords Publication of the Month October 2024
Spillwords Publication of the Month June 2025

The Hills

On October 27, 2023October 27, 2023 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Stories61 Comments

The four boys ran for the rolling hills at the top of their street! They anticipated their next adventure after school and on the weekends when freedom was real. Kites stretched to touch the sky when it turned a brilliant blue. Four sets of hands built dams with rocks, sticks, and branches. A first cigarette drag under the big oak. The rain didn’t stop them; they headed for the tree fort! Two stories, carpeted, and eighteen feet up the trunk! Sledding down the grass on cardboard brought laughter. Imagination was their fearless leader – the way it was back then.

To buy your copy, simply click on the
image. Thank you! 🙏🏻💚

Thank you to those who have purchased Ever So Gently,
and who have shared beautiful reviews. 🩵

Does this story evoke your own childhood memories?

I appreciate your visit today and wish you a fabulous Friday
and weekend ahead!
~ Lauren ❤️

I know this…

On July 18, 2023 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry93 Comments

We don’t live forever,
I know this,
just as sunlight and moonbeams
can’t shine simultaneously,
but sometimes I feel
like he and I
will transcend the inevitable.

Imagining the opposite
is unimaginable
because it means one of us
will be left alone with our tears
to sweep up the shattered pieces
of our hearts
in every room we step into.
It means going solo
through
every sunrise,
every sunset.

It’s okay to daydream,
isn’t it?

It’s alright to feel
we’ll live forever,
isn’t it?

What is life
without dreams,
without fantasy?

Reality hides
in the shadows,
I know this,
but until life changes,
I’ll live in my fantasy,
knowing he’ll be beside me
eternally.

Another world…

On October 12, 2020October 12, 2020 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Inspirational, Nature, Photos45 Comments

Walk with us into
the magic of autumn
where tree-lined
serenity surrounds…
the old swimming hole
evokes precious
memories of when
they were young.
We stumble upon
a home for one
lucky critter,
but built by who?
We’re touched
by the Compassion
on a bench…
Only a short drive,
but as we walk
in the light rain,
reveling in the
fragrance of a
new season,
it seems we’ve
stepped into
a whole new world.

Lauren Scott (c) 2020 💗

Young Minds

On August 21, 2018August 21, 2018 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry40 Comments

Their imaginations carried them
into the African Savannah
keeping watch for a parade
of animals on the hunt
They chose not to be prey
if avoiding such demise
was possible –
Suddenly, their feet stopped
in their tracks,
as fear crept up the backs
of their necks –
A thunder-booming growl
echoed throughout the grassland
The next move meant life or death
Then a meow joined the growl
Terror escalated
as they held their breath,
mirroring an owl’s innate ability,
afraid to make a sound
Then when Mom yelled,
“Lunch is ready,”
fear subsided and
their adventure came
to an abrupt halt –
until next time
when their imaginings
became alive again

Lauren Scott © 2018
(When we arrived at our campsite,
we noticed some visitors.
So I became inspired right away. 🙂 )

Heebie Jeebies

On February 11, 2018February 11, 2018 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Discussion31 Comments

Arachnophobia has had a grip on me since I was a young child, but I can’t recall exactly why. I only know the effects are real when spiders of all sizes have caused unwanted anxiety in my life. I’m not afraid of their bite or that they’ll hurt me, though. They indescribably creep me out with their eight legs, and if they’re hairy, the heebie jeebies escalate!

Over the years, I’ve dealt with common house spiders like most of us do that I’m sure aren’t harmful. They have a tendency to pop out of nowhere and scare the living daylights out of me. One memorable event happened years ago that was anything but common…

I had noticed a big dark spot on the carpet while turning off the lights one night. I wondered what it was, and although I hesitated, I almost reached down to touch it. I’m ever so thankful I chose not to because I probably would’ve had a heart attack! So, I turned on the light and said a four-letter-word that caught my husband’s attention. Even though he doesn’t share my fear, he was surprised to find that big guy in our house. He also said that it looked like a California tarantula, harmless. Okay, first of all, how the heck did it get in the house? And harmless was a good thing. With a glass, he scooped it out and transported it outside where it belonged. Now, over time, my fear has calmed down. I’ve even saved a few.

Fast forwarding now, a few nights ago, we found a big spider (uglier than normal) hanging out on the bottom of our bedroom door just as we were turning out the lights at the end of our day. Another nighttime adventure. It wasn’t a common house spider, and where the heck did it come from? Of course, I got my husband a glass again so he could place the arachnid in its proper outdoor accommodations. I could’ve done the glass thing, too, like I’ve done in the past. But…

I was so freaked out that it took me a while to finally fall asleep. My imagination fell into overtime, and my heart was beating fast. Clearly, this fear took control even though I tried deep breathing and thinking of the first happy song that came to mind…Jingle Bells. 🙂 (no explanation on that one)
In the meantime, my husband was so tired that he fell asleep seconds later. Thanks, Honey!

I finally caught some winks, but it was a toss-and-turn night where I just couldn’t erase that visual, and on our door, no less. Maybe it was another common house spider, but there was nothing common looking about this one. It also goes to show that fear becomes magnified at nighttime. When it’s dark out, when the sun isn’t shining its light and warmth, things that scare us become less controllable, less manageable.

For the days following that frightful event, the sun has been shining; it’s felt like spring even though winter needs to visit more, and I’m okay. I had a bad case of the heebie jeebies that night, which proved that even though my arachnophobia had calmed, there could be circumstances where it flares up more than I want it to. Since then, I’ve shed those heebie jeebies to the best of my ability.

Do you share this same creepy-crawly fear? 🙂
Do you have a different fear that you struggle with?

p.s. No photos for this post, and I’m sure you understand. 🙂

If You Believe

On August 12, 2012 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Fun, Inspirational78 Comments

Don’t you wish that you could fly
above the clouds in the clear blue sky,
soaring with the angels near,
erasing all your worries and fear?

Wouldn’t it be amazing to swim
in the turquoise ocean just on a whim,
gliding with a friendly dolphin,
serenaded by an elegant violin?

Imagine skipping through a lush meadow
with the company of a vibrant butterfly show
or tip toeing amongst the glowing stars
to the music of strumming guitars

Close your eyes, twinkle your nose
Cross your arms, curl your toes
Blink three times, twirl around
Concentrate; okay, here goes…

Photo: Google Images