I’m Scared to Spend the Night Alone

I am assertive, confident, and successful

I have trained in self-defense, self-offense, and combative weapons

I spend most nights in small-town Mississippi, on a quiet street, in a home blanketed with security, guarded by three large-breed dogs, and surrounded by those I love

And, yet — I am scared to spend the night alone

Terrified, really…

Did I mention, I am 40+ years old??

- — — -

As I get older [I can’t quite claim wiser…], the less content I am to continue living with personal “challenges”

Obviously, my quality of sleep is a challenge

After trying several “home-remedies” [with zero success], I contacted our local sleep-guru

Our consultation started out as any new doctor visit — how old? weight? height? tobacco? alcohol? hallucinations?

Me: Wait…what?! How dare you?! I’m not crazy, Doc!! NO!! I do NOT have hallucinations!! [said in a quite offended tone]

Doc: So you never go to sleep, and wake-up seeing a spider on you? Or someone in the corner of your room? And they are all so real????

Me: Well, duh — that happens every night

Doc: So…you have hallucinations…??

Me: Oh. Ehhhhh…. Yeah

Several sleep tests later, I was gifted with an explanation: narcolepsy