Broken

My heart pounded in my chest so loudly that I could almost hear it thump louder than the old floorboards underneath my feet. Cold and merciless as I stepped on them. It was funny or rather surprising how I was sweating so profusely even in  this biting chill of the night. It’s definitely going to be much more cold outside, but that is far more bearable than being trapped in this house even for a second.

I reached the stairs and stopped, trying to listen for the slightest bit of noise in the still air that would give me an indication of my failure at being stealthy. What if they are still awake? What if their sleep is too light that breaks at the slightest bit of commotion? What if all of this is somehow their plan to punish me for my earlier indiscipline?

Nothing. Absolutely nothing was heard as the seconds ticked by into minutes and moments of anxious d