**21 year ago**
"But you won't tell anyone! Swear, Rosy!" I shake Rose's shoulders.
We are having a sleepover at my house. Those are always fun, but tonight I'm afraid to sleep alone. Just like yesterday, and the day before yesterday, and before that. Mom says I'm too old to sleep with her and Dad, but she doesn't know! No one knows what I'm afraid of, and they can't. No one except Rose.
"Pinky promise!" Rose lifts a pinky in the air. Her nails are pink. Mine are blue and with sequins that shine like tiny stars. Rose's sequins are on her T-shirt, which I'd be envious of if it wasn't also pink.
"That's a bad promise. It's pink-y!" I pout. "Promise you won't tell anyone, or you… or you eat a dead cat!"
"Eww! Promise! Now I will totally not say this. Say what?"
"Monsters." I hug myself and shiver. "Rosy, I saw monsters. They were real, but only I saw them! You were there, too, remember? A week ago."
