Paranoia and a rose
I was sitting at home alone. The Giraffe was at work. Sometimes at his job he has to work until 11pm or later, and this was one of those nights. So I’m sitting at the computer, home alone, working away on a paper. And there’s a knock at the door.
I completely froze. We had only been in the apartment for a few weeks, but nobody has ever knocked at the door before. Who would possibly be visiting at 9pm? My first thought was the downstairs neighbor, a single guy in his 50s who seems nice enough, but oh my god what if he knows I’m home alone and he’s going to assault me?
Or it could be anyone. Some stranger who watched me come home earlier that evening and plans to murder me. Who else would possibly be knocking at the door but a murderer?
I thought about not answering it. Just pretending I’m not home. But then I found myself walking over to the door to check the peephole. I could definitely see a figure out there, but the peep hole is cloudy and distorted so I can’t see who it is. Just a figure. So I leaned the weight of my body against the door, thinking I could slam it shut if I needed to, and I slowly opened it a crack, peeking one eye through the slit.
It was the Giraffe. With a rose.
“Oh my god don’t ever scare me like again! I thought you were a murderer!”
He had gotten out early, and instead of texting me like he usually does, he thought he’d surprise me. Which is so so so sweet. Him, with the rose, at the door. So sweet. And I totally ruined the moment because I thought he was going to kill me. My paranoia is sucking the life out of his romance.
Something similar happened once before with a former boyfriend. Remember? Apparently I need my boyfriends to come home with fanfare and fireworks and grand announcements about their impending arrivals. Otherwise? For sure it’s a murderer.
PS – The Giraffe just got a new job that will not require him to be gone in the evenings. And I now get him on the weekends too! In his line of work, I thought that would never happen so I’m feeling pretty darn blessed right now.
Uh, no you were not being paranoid. Matter of fact, I’m really mad that you opened the door! If you can’t see through the peephole then you need to yell out a solid “who is it” and if they don’t answer then you don’t answer. Comprende?
Don’t you watch the news?
My sister is convinced she’s going to be cut into 1″ pieces. You single girls! Get married already.
Congrats to both of you on the new job! And I hope you’ve calmed down since then. I can totally see myself doing that.
I probably wouldn’t have even answered the door! I’m with you. Serial killers clearly knock on doors at night.
I’m with Babs. Why did you even open the door?! And now the Giraffe should know better! I never answer the door when I’m home alone. If someone I care about is coming to see me, they’ll call first. The unknown person ringing the doorbell? Not someone I care about.
Out of curiosity, what does the Giraffe do?
Awwww…that is incredibly sweet.
LOL I don’t recall reading the other story.
I think you should ask for a new peephole.
That is so sweet. I think one rose is the sweetest. It’s been forever since Kevin has surprised me with something like that.
My life is so devoid of romance that I would probably welcome the serial killer, as long as he brought me a rose.