The Intruder, by Mark Tulin – Friday Flash Fiction
— www.fridayflashfiction.com/100-word-stories/the-intruder-by-mark-tulin
A flash story about broken dreams.
The Intruder, by Mark Tulin
12/3/2019
My father’s piercing scream invaded my dream.
“Hey!” I heard him shout, “Get the hell outta here!”
Dad yelled at the top of his lungs from the living room where I found him pushing against the door. “Help me!” he cried. “Someone’s trying to break in!”
Soon we heard footsteps running down into the basement.
Mom called 911.
The burglar escaped through the back door.
The intruder invaded my dream that day, but years later he still lives in my head. Each night before retiring, I check the deadbolt locks twice on the front door, fearing that he might return.


A captivating story Mark…
Thanks, Ivor. Funny how you can’t shake a trauma, no matter how old one gets.
The stuff of nightmares….
Traumas like this seep into the subconscious.
Yes, that invasion of privacy, the stealing of safety. That burglar definitely did not walk away empty-handed for with him he stole your peace and made you feel vulnerable.
Exactly. Stealing my peace and sense of safety was more valuable than anything they could have taken from the house.
Indeed.
interesting, adventurous and captivating
Thank you, Ihagh. 🙂