All through the night, there were strange sounds outside my door. Footsteps would often pace back and forth in the hallway, accompanied by canine sounds. Sometimes low and inconsistent growling, sometimes indistinct snarls, and other times quiet whimpering.
One time there was scratching on the walls. It was in short and frenzied strokes, no doubt tearing all the way into the insulation.
On multiple occasions the doorknob would jiggle, like something was holding it from the other side. But it never did open. The pressure would let up after a minute or so. Then all of the sounds would leave until they returned a couple of hours later in a different, unprecedented pattern.
I wake up for about the fourth time, this time to morning sunlight illuminating the curtains from behind.
My stoma
