Midnight Series: When Cockroaches Turned My Room Into a Meeting Hall

There is something about midnight that makes me feel more alive than during the day. Midnight is usually my favourite hour of the day. I've been postponing most of my activities until then, especially when I need to watch or download movies or wrap myself up in such odd hours.

The beautiful thing about the midnight is the quietness, the reduction in the noise because, of course, everyone would have gone to sleep; it’s only just the silence in the dark. Life feels slower, too. Midnight is always a perfect time to reflect, pray, or lie down and let your thoughts wander.

But amidst the beauty of the midnight, one of such days decided to humble me and remind me that sometimes, peace is not always guaranteed.

On this particular night, I was already in bed; my younger sister was also around, and we shared the bed. I was ready to sleep, so, I turned off the light. Phone put aside, my body was relaxed.

Just when I was already in dreamland, suddenly, something woke me up. When I turned on the small solar lamp beside me, I saw a tiny cockroach, and I immediately slapped it with my palm, and it died. I slept back thinking that was all, didn’t know I was about to start a vigil I hadn’t planned.

Then another one came on top of me, and I turned on the lamp again and paam…I killed it. I slept back again. My mind was up now, and the sleep had disappeared. The funny part was that these creatures weren’t disturbing my sister. How come? We were both sleeping on the same bed. Why me?

At first, I ignored it. I forced myself back to sleep, telling myself, “It’s nothing, just sleep.” But the movements increased.

Next thing I knew, I saw the baby cockroaches appearing - one, two, then plenty. You would think they fixed a meeting and chose my room as the venue. What’s happening? I asked. No invitation, no notice, just straight invasion. I started asking, “Who paid the rent here. Me or them?”

It wasn't like I was scared or something, but I was seriously frustrated. They had taken my sleep away, and there was no way I could enjoy it. Midnight turned into a monitoring session.

I had no choice but to turn on the light and leave it on. Thank God for solar power, because how would it have been without the light, especially when the power supply wasn't doing well in my country? My night could have been worse if not for this solar.

I stayed awake, watching them move around while managing to kill the ones I could lay my hands on. You need to come see how they were moving around confidently, like they paid the rent. Sleep completely disappeared.

I kept hoping they would disappear or something so I could sleep, but my eyes refused to close. Anytime I tried, my brain reminded me that they might come around again. That midnight became longer than usual, and when morning finally came, (I didn’t know when I'd slept off, though), it affected my mood.

The effect showed during the day. It amazed me because I had never experienced anything like that since I moved into this place. The midnight just decided to show me premium drama.

Trust me, I took laws into my own hands. Justice was served because I had to get insecticide at all costs and spray the whole house. Though not all were killed, they were reduced in number. I made sure I wouldn’t experience that kind of midnight drama again.

Some midnights are always funny, frustrating and very real, and yes, I experienced all of that. Uninvited guests, but glad most of the participants didn’t survive. I made sure of that.

_{Post published at 12:30 am}

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_{Images are all mine}