Last night, around 11pm, I was already in bed

My Mum had left the house urgently to visit a lady, who just had a baby and my younger sister had not yet returned from a date with her boyfriend.

I was sitting In front of the TV in my room, stuffing myself with popcorn. I had just finished an online class and I really needed to rest.

I watched TV for a few hours then fell asleep. When I woke up to the sound of knocking on the door, the TV was still on.

I turned it off and went downstairs to check if it was mum or my sister.

“Honey! I’m home” My mum said excitedly as I approached the door. “Aunt Mabel’s baby is so cute. You should see the photos I took of him”

I looked through the peephole because her voice sounded a little off.

It was mum, alright, but something about her felt strange.

Maybe it was her flawless complexion, or maybe it was her eyes which seemed a bit bigger than usual or maybe it was simply my imagination.

I stood, staring into the peephole and mum stared right back.

She then frowned and exclaimed, ” Well, what are you waiting for? Open the damned door. Anita! It’s freezing out here”

“Don’t you have your keys” I asked, as a cold shiver ran down my spine “You took them before you left”

Mum laughed and said, “ermm.. I think I left them at Mabel’s place. Quickly, Anita, open the door”

I looked at her unusual appearance.

For some reason, I felt like this wasn’t my mother.

I’m being ridiculous, I thought. For the last time, I looked through the peephole again.

Maybe, it was the problem with my eyesight, but now, everything was dark and grey behind the door.

Mum stood, staring at me with her very big eyes, she seemed to be getting paler.

Then she smiled— a very crooked, creepy smile— and waved at me. It felt very awkward.

“Hey?” I asked quietly through the door.

“Yes dear” She replied in a syrupy sweet voice.

There was silence. My heart started thudding and my legs began to tremble.

Mum sighed loudly outside the door.

“How do I know that you’re my mum?” I asked, my voice was shaky.

“Of course, I’m your mum. Who else would it be? Sometimes, I think your constant video games are now begining to affect you. Open the door now. Stop being silly” she said firmly.

“I don’t play video games.”

“Ann, stop this nonsense. Let me in” she growled.

I stepped back.

“Ann.! Your sister will be here soon. Open this door” she repeated.

“My sister? I’ll text her” I said

There was another quiet silence.

Mum tried to open the door. I locked it twice. The door knob bent to the side and I heard a loud thud on it. I was sure that the woman outside the door was now trying to break into the house.

She began kicking it in fury. She looked at me through the peephole.

I texted my sister. ” Hey Amy, Mum came back. Where are you?”

After several minutes of mum or whoever was outside the door yelling at me to open it, my sister texted me back.

She said. “My boyfriend dropped me off at Aunt Mabel’s house. I’m with Mum now. What’s up?”