The sound of a car coming up the gravel driveway gave her a shudder that raced up her spine. She heard a car door close and then the footfalls of boots on the front porch. Alma Rose swung her left leg over the side of the bed. She still couldn’t move her right leg and just lied on the bed in a contorted position.
She heard a downstairs window shatter and glass spill onto the wooden floor. She pushed herself toward the edge of the bed and with her arms, threw the comforter onto the floor next to the bed. Alma Rose pushed herself off the bed and she fell onto the comforter which blunted the sound of her fall. She crawled over to the door, stretched her arm, and locked the door.
When she heard footsteps in the hallway, Alma Rose grabbed the comforter around her and rolled away from the door. She lied silent on the floor, near the bed. She listened for any noise but heard none. Then the footfalls resumed and stopped on the other side of the bedroom door. When the doorknob turned, she covered her mouth with the corner of the comforter in the desperate hope that it would render any spontaneous screams inaudible.
The pounding of fists on the door, caused Alma Rose to shake with every thump. Then as quickly as the beating on the door began, it subsided. She then heard the engine of a car start and then head away from the house down the gravel driveway.
Alma Rose lied on the floor in a heap. Tears welled up in her eyes as she buried her head in the comforter.
