I was standing by the door, trying to find a way to stay a little longer. She kept raising her voice, and I tried as hard as I could to keep mine controlled. In the end, she won, like she always did. But before I walked out the door, I remembered that I left my cell phone charger in the basement. She told me to hurry up and get it, so I did.

I went downstairs and she followed me to where I had left my charger plugged in. I pulled the charger out of the wall socket, turned around and told her I loved her. She sighed and pulled me close to her. To my surprise, she started to cry. Tears rolled down her beautiful face as she told me she loved me too.

I held her, running my hand through her hair. Then I heard a strange sound. It was like a soft footstep, like someone was walking in the storage room across from where we stood. I listened closely, waiting to see if I would hear it again. I didn’t. So I told her I loved her again and that I would see her tomorrow.

She hugged me tight again and then kissed me. Then we both walked up the stairs. She opened the door for me and watched as I went to my car. Then she disappeared back inside. I took my phone and set it on my lap. Then I set my phone charger in the passenger seat. I got my keys and started the car.

But I didn’t leave yet. I kept thinking about that sound I heard in the basement. Was I just paranoid? Or was there someone actually down there? I finally decided I was just paranoid. I sent her a text message, telling her to text or call me if anything went wrong. Then I backed out of the driveway.

I was turning off her street when I heard it. I abruptly stopped the car and listened, sweating. My heart was beating rapidly. That couldn’t have been a gunshot. . . Could it? I asked myself. As if to confirm my worst fear, another gunshot echoed down the street I had just left. Quickly, I spun the car around and pulled back into the driveway, just as another gunshot went off.

I didn’t bother to turn off my car. I just jumped out the door as soon as I put it in park. I raced inside. Luckily, the front door was unlocked. She must have forgotten to lock it after I left. When I stepped into the house, yet another gunshot went off.