Mosquitos, the smallest vampire

ZZZZzzzzzZZZzzzzZZZZZzzz.Where is it? Is it on me? Has it flown away?

ZZZZzzzzZZZZzz. Nope, still here.

I don't want to get out of bed. Maybe I can pull my bedding up and cover myself so it can't get me. Surely it cannot puncture my quilt and find my sweet red nectar it so desperately seeks.

But can I risk it? ZZZzzzZZZzzz.

Mosquitos are advanced and highly superior predators. They come out on a balmy summer nights when the last thing you want to do is pull your doona up covering your body from neck to toe. They know you have a leg kick out from under the quilt. They know you are more likely to be naked under the quilt, providing a greater likelihood of landing and feeding. They know.

They come just after you have found the position you can finally fall asleep in - which is nearly impossible and can seem to take hours when every position seems hot, sweaty and unbearable on a hot and humid summer night. They know you’re less likely to get out of bed; it’s the perfect moment to pounce. It is then when your ears prick and you hear in the distance zzzzzzzzzzz you then tune your ears, moving your head to give your ears the best opportunity to hear anything, something - hopefully nothing. You stop breathing to ensure you don't mistake deep breathing for the mosquito. If you are in bed with someone you wake them up and tell them to listen out, there is a mosquito about. Four ears are better than two. You listen closely zzzzzzzZZ. It's getting closer. ZzZzZzZzz it's circling me like a hawk circles its prey before landing for dinner! ZZZZZzzzzzzz. I have to find it and get it.

Who would think something the size of my baby toenail would create such a fuss. But they do. Just one bite and your left scratching yourself like a dog with flees all night long. You pretend you don't feel the need to itch but it becomes unbearable. You scratch so hard you curse that today was the day you chose to cut back your nails. But what's worse is you scratch one section of your leg and then your arm feels itchy, then your scalp, your foot. Every inch of your body wants a hard bristle brush over.

Time to get out of bed and deal with this demon. I walk about the bedroom, I will not sleep until I can confirm I've dealt with the situation. I must look like a lunatic, walking around my room looking up at the ceilings then down at the floor, at all specs of dust that float around me and talking to myself. But I don’t care, it is 2.43am and I need to catch the beast before it catches me.

ZzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZ CLAP. Did I get it? I can't hear anything I think I did. Woo! hoo! Success. I can try and find that comfortable spot in bed again.

ZZZZZzzzzzzZZZZzzzzz.

Nooooooo damn you insect vampire.

I'm changing rooms.