Cathy

He awoke to strange sounds in the hall.

His wife of 20 years was not beside him.

He quickly headed out into the hallway. The nightlight showed the outline of a figure.

"Cathy?"

The figure turned.It was humanlike, but it was not his Cathy.

"Who are you?"

"Do not be afraid," the figure said, in a soothing female voice. "I mean you no harm. We mean you no harm."

"Who are you? Where is my Cathy?"

The figure walked toward him. "I have been here all along, my love," it said, as it began to change back to Cathy.