This was at a point in my life when times were not so grand. My wife and I had separated, and I found myself living in an apartment that was pretty old, yet comfortable for just myself.

After only a week in the new place, I was frequently jolted out of sleep just as I was drifting off by a voice that would make suggestions or remind me of things I had to do.

At first, I just thought it was my subconscious mind playing with me, or speaking aloud without realizing it, but there were just too many coincidences.

Just as I was drifting off, I could clearly hear a voice say, "Don't forget the oven," and jolted from sleep, I would wander into the kitchen and find the oven still on. I was making beef jerky that day, which is a long process and I had indeed left the oven on.

This happened on several occasions for different things, yet the result was always the same, it was something that could have been life threatening or needed to be done immediately.

One thing I credit this voice for is the saving of my life.

One night as I was going to bed, I heard it for the first time while still wide awake. It spoke to me in a clear open manner and said, "Get your pistol."

I was stunned and frozen for a moment because the voice was there in my room. After a moment I said aloud, "What?",

And then I clearly heard it again as if someone were no more than two feet from me, it said, "Sleep with it."

I was somewhat shaken at this point, never having heard the voice while awake fully, and never quite sure it wasn't my own subconscious, but now I knew.

I heeded the voice and got my Berretta 9 mm from my dresser and loaded it, then placed it under my pillow, and puzzled over the voice as I went to sleep.

I never heard the intruder, but I know it was the voice that woke me. I seem to recall it saying something to the effect of, "He's here," but it snapped me awake.

Sure as I am here today, there was a man in my bedroom doorway. In what felt like slow motion to me, I slid my hand under the pillow, gripped my pistol and brought it up as I sat upright pulling the slide back and releasing it to chamber a bullet.

The man must have heard it, because he froze even before I screamed at him, "DON'T MOVE!"

He had a knife in his hand which I did not see until then and he tossed it behind him into the hallway without me saying to do so.

I kept him on the floor at gunpoint while I called 911, then waited for police to arrive. The intruder offered, in a babbling, pleading voice, numerous promises if I would just let him go. No deal, as I am sure he would have killed me if my pistol had not been with me.

I could not get back to sleep, and called my boss with the story of the break-in, and asked for the day off. Around 6:00 P.M., I started feeling sleepy, the adrenaline worn off, and decided to try to sleep.

As I lay on my bed staring at the wall, I said aloud, "Whoever you are, thank you, thank you."

Just as I was drifting off, half way between consciousness and sleep, I heard, "Sleep, I am here."

It turned out that the intruder was a three time felon with a long history, and this time he went down for good 25 to life.

I have since moved from that apartment and a friend from my place of work took the place when I left. He says he has heard nothing.

I don't know who the voice was, but I am in debt, gratefully.