A knock on the door- A Short Story Flashcards
A KNOCK ON THE DOOR
Thump, Thump
The vibrating sound of knuckles pounding against the wooden door of my apartment penetrates through the walls
I’m in the middle of reading my Facebook wall updates—I just found out that my friends Katie and Chris are in a
relationship! I didn’t even know they were dating!!! I knew there was something fishy about them spending a lot of
time together. But all of a sudden I hear the noise coming from my door
Thump, Thump
Slowly I close my laptop, turn my radio off and lean closer to make sure I wasn’t imagining the sound
Thump Thump
The unmistakable noise indicating someone’s presence at the front door
I wonder who it is? Could it be my uncle? No, no, can’t be him. He would have called before coming. He knows
better.
Should I open the door?
Thump Thump
As if a rewind button was pressed in my memory, my mind travels back 5 years ago
The door creaks as I open it early on a cold winter morning, five days before Christmas
Two officers in navy blue uniforms with the letters I-C-E written all over their suits enter my home pretending to be
police looking for a man they knew did not live within the house
“We’re looking for a man named Juan Gonzales. He listed this address as his residence. Is he home?”
“We don’t know that person”, my mom answers.
“Ma’am we apologize, we must have been mistaken. Can I see your ID? Don’t worry, it is just part of the process.”
Thump, Thump
“Ma’am, are you aware that you and your family have an order of deportation?”
Thump, Thump,
I see the frightened faces on my mom and my sister as they are being patted down while the officers are doing the
same to me
I feel the cold metal against my skin as they place handcuffs around my hands and chain them to my stomach
I hear my mom’s pleading voice “Why are you doing this? What did we do wrong?”
“Please, don’t hurt my daughters!”
Thump, Thump
The sound brings me back to the present
Are they coming for me, again? Or are they coming to take away the rest of my family members? Are they here to
tear my heart into more pieces?
Have they not inflicted enough pain upon my family and me?
I peek through the cracks of my bedroom door making sure their eyes are not peering through the windows
Quietly, I tiptoe on the soft carpet to the front door hoping they can’t hear my heart beating quickly
After traveling what seemed like 12 miles when instead it was 12 feet
I reach the front door
I peer through the hole in the door
A man in a brown uniform, alone, holding a square package in his hand
I breathe a sigh of relief
I open the door
“Delivery for Nadia. Can you please sign here?”
