Fifty Cent Words

There's someone in my house. I heard a window break and my front door creak open. Then the sounds of footsteps slowly entering. I can hear them right now shuffling through my home in the darkness. I'm trying to stay silent. Trying to slow my breathing. Maybe they'll go away. Maybe I can hide here in my room. Maybe it will all be ok. The footsteps continue up the stairs and I realize that's not going to happen. The sounds draw closer with every second until they pause in front of my bedroom door. Someone’s in my room. A filthy woman dressed in dirty tattered clothes. Her muddy boots leave footprints on the hardwood floor. I lie in my bed in shock and watch her slowly ease further through the threshold. Somehow, she seems so familiar. I don’t know her, but she resembles someone I do. Her eyes lock onto mine. I lay lifeless staring back gripped in terror. She says nothing and turns her attention to the vanity in the corner of the room. The woman sits down and stares into t