A Glimpse of Words

She thought she was having a heart attack. Her heart was running a marathon. She had only caught a glimpse of words, but someone was going to die tonight. An old lady by a train track. She stared out her window, wondering if she needed to worry. No trains around here, her inner voice said. There was a rumbling past the window. The house shook. She forgot for a second she was not home tonight. She was housesitting for a friend. Friend’s giant cat took a leap landing on the bed. Get out! She shrieked, terrified more than ever now. Noises seem to come from the closet, the window, and the street She so wished she had not walked into that conversation tonight. “old lady”, “train track”, “die.” Sleep never came. Written 12-14-2019 Contest: Listening In Sponsor: Julia Ward