As soon as I heard the car doors slam shut, I knew it was my moment. With a soft shove, I pushed the seat down and slipped out of the trunk, landing quietly on the floor. I took a second to ease the seat back into place, making sure not to make a sound. They disappeared into the house through a side door, and I couldn't help but peek outside. The scene was so typical yet picturesque―a ranch-style home with a manicured lawn that looked like it was plucked right from a magazine.
There was a dog barking up a storm, but thankfully, he was tied up in the yard, yapping at the car. Just then, Allen and the woman emerged from the house, leash in hand, ready to take the dog for a stroll.
Luckily, they didn't seem to notice the dog's frantic attempts to alert them of my presence. As they walked down the street, I seized my chance and quietly made my way to the side door, then into the house.
Allen's home had a cozy vibe that made me feel oddly at ease, even though I was technically trespassing. Sure, I hadn't broken in per se, because the door was unlocked, but stepping into someone's space without their permission or an invite was still wrong. The walls were adorned with family photos, and I caught a glimpse of what looked like kids―maybe his nieces or nephews, or perhaps his little ones.
There was a sweet photo of him with a woman, but not a single image of him in the military uniform. After wandering through his home for a bit, I felt it was time to make a hasty exit. Just as I was about to sneak out the door, I caught sight of Allen and the young woman strolling up the driveway. And, of course, that's when the dog decided to go wild again. In a panic, I sprinted down to the basement and spotted a window that looked like my only way out.
I could hear the dog running to get inside the house and straight to the basement door. I carefully climbed up on a table and squeezed through the slanted open window. The dog was scratching at the door, and just as the woman swung it open, I was in the middle of trying to wiggle my leg through the window.
It felt like a scene out of a suspense movie with a bit of comedy. I couldn't help but laugh nervously at the chaos of it all, feeling that rush of adrenaline as I finally freed myself. Talk about cutting it close!
As I ducked down to cut through the hedges, there was a nosy neighbor next door. The woman spotted me crawling out of the basement window, and she yelled for Allen. My heart raced as I bolted down the street like my life depended on it, sprinting as fast as my legs could carry me.
I can't quite explain what happened next, but somewhere along the way, I ended up in an old car parked in someone else's yard, but the house looked deserted. As I hunkered down in the seat, I caught a glimpse of a police car cruising by, and my anxiety spiked.
I knew I needed to stay hidden until things felt safe. My heart was pounding like crazy, and I was gasping for breath, questioning my sanity. This was a really dumb decision. What on earth was I thinking? About to screw my entire life up. I definitely looked like some sort of stalker just lying there. I could almost feel the embarrassment I was going to face with my family and friends.