Night Terrors

He heard the shrill cry of the alarm before opening his eyes. The noise hijacked his wonderful dream of himself and his same-sex partner fucking on the beach. He woke up before his boyfriend did, to find darkness all around. It was six in the morning. Outside, the wrath of winter reigned supreme: it was January, and they lived in Vermont. Snow fell, and footprints led up to the front door of their bungalow.

A stray cat had gotten in. He called animal control and had them take care of it, deciding to get a few more hour’s sleep and then calling the locksmith about the broken door when he woke up later.