MYSTERY BOX

I was in my room, listening to some Taylor Swift music about heartbreak with my headphones on, lost in the melodies of the song. The volume was just right allowing me to enjoy my favorite song while being aware of any sounds around me. Living alone had its perks, but it could also make me a bit jumpy at times.

As the music flowed, I suddenly heard a loud banging at the door, jolting me out of my rhythm, "Who might it be? I wasn't expecting anyone," I thought, momentarily taken aback. With a mix of curiosity and caution, I decided to investigate the source of the disturbance.

Carefully tiptoeing to the guest room, I hoped to catch a glimpse of the person at the door through the window. To my surprise, there was nobody there. The street below lay quiet and empty, devoid of any signs of life. Doubt crept into my mind, but I dismissed it as a mere fragment of my imagination.

I laughed lightly at myself, "who could be at the door by this time, it's just five minutes after five in the morning" I murmured.

Just as I turned away from the window, another round of banging shattered the silence. Cold chills raced down my spine, enveloping me in a cloak of unease, I cautiously approached the door, my heart pounding in tandem with the rhythmic thumps.

Peering through the small gap between the door and the frame, I saw a box resting on the doorstep. Its presence only deepened the fear in me. with shaking legs, I tiptoed back to my room to get my phone, "I'm calling 911, A'int nobody playing tricks on me in my neighborhood," I muttered under my breath, even when I know I was only saying that to distract myself from feeling scared.

I reached out to my bedside table for my phone and dialed 911, I was about to place the phone to my ear when another bang resonated, Startling me.

I went back to the door and waited silently until it was some minutes after 7 am, then with trembling hands I turned the doorknob and opened the door, unsure of what awaited me on the other side.

I reached out for the box, and little did I know that the horror I anticipated would turn out to be something different entirely. As I opened the box, my fear transformed into amusement. Inside, I found a note from my mom, "Gotcha, payback time" Her writing was scrawled on the paper.

I couldn't help but burst into laughter, realizing how scared I had been over a harmless prank from my mischievous mother. The fear dissipated, replaced by a sense of warmth and love. I called my mom, sharing a good laugh with her over the unexpected turn of events.

"How did you manage to plan this," I asked and she started telling me about how she had to pay a delivery service to keep dropping and picking u the package. I smiled softly, what a weird woman, I thought, already plotting in my head how to get back at her.

This prank reminded me of the bond I shared with my mom and the joy that could be found even in the most unexpected moments. It taught me to appreciate the lightheartedness of life and to find humor even in the scariest of situations.

So there I stood, Laughing in the hallway, Headphones still draped around my neck, grateful for the laughter and love Mom had brought into my life. It was a reminder t cherish the moments that make us smile, even when they start with a terrifying bang.

I also don't think I'll ever be listening to music again over headphones, not when I'm alone.