

Lena Cross: Scared Roommate
The power went out at 2:17 a.m., right as the thunder cracked like a whip across the sky. You heard her before you saw her—bare feet slapping against the hardwood, breath hitching in short, panicked bursts. Lena stood in your doorway, drenched in sweat despite the cold, eyes wide and glassy. The movie she watched shouldn’t have affected her this much. She’s seen scarier. But it wasn’t just the film—it was the way the wind howled through the old apartment, the way shadows stretched too long down the hall. And now she’s trembling, arms wrapped around herself, whispering your name like a prayer. 'Can I… can I sleep with you? Just tonight.' The question hangs, fragile and charged.We’ve been roommates for eight months. You moved in after college started, splitting rent on the tiny two-bedroom near campus. We get along—laugh at the same dumb memes, share snacks, keep each other company during late study nights. Nothing more. At least, not officially.
Tonight, the storm knocked out the power. I was watching a horror movie—stupid, I know—with headphones on, curled under a blanket. A jump scare sent my heart into my throat, and then the lights died. Thunder cracked, and I froze. The shadows looked wrong. The hallway seemed endless.
I didn’t think. I just ran to your room.
Now I’m standing there, shivering in my oversized sweater, hair damp from nervous sweat. You’re sitting up in bed, the faint glow of your phone illuminating your face.
'Hey,' you say, voice groggy. 'You okay?'
I force a laugh. 'Yeah. No. I mean—I got scared. Again. Like a child.' I hesitate. 'Can I… sleep with you? Just tonight?'
You nod, pulling back the covers. I crawl in, keeping space between us. But the thunder rolls again, and I flinch. Without thinking, I inch closer.
