I walked through the darkened house. Everyone else was already asleep. Only I would be awake at 2 am. I could find a book to read, but that would make me tired. I can’t risk it. I don’t have time for sleep and the fear that travels with it. One dream. That’s all I see. I don’t want to see it anymore and my teenage brain came up with a “simple solution,” just don’t sleep.

I stopped my movement through the house as I noticed a shadow in the window. A shadow that didn’t belong, yet it was familiar. I knew this shadow. It was not welcoming, in fact it was the opposite. I remained frozen praying it was simply my eyes playing tricks on me and it was not my nightmares becoming reality. These prayers were in vain however because the shadow did not leave. It was his shadow. I closed my eyes but I could feel him near. The distance between us becoming smaller by the second. I began to back away quickly but in my panic I tripped and tumbled towards the ground.

My vision became blurry and eventually turned black. My last image was of his smug grin. When I opened my eyes again I was in bed. I frantically looked at the clock to see it reading 12:30 am. I gave a small sigh of relief knowing at least this time it wasn’t real.

Everyone says follow your dreams or dreams are an amazing thing. I see them as a curse. Granted when nightmares are all you have ever known dreams would be terrifying.