I'm sleeping but not resting. Squeezing my eyes shut in hopes of waking up from this nightmare. Only, I never do. Nights spent staring at the stars and an airplane in the sky. Except the plane stays suspended in the air, defying all science. I scream, but no one hears me. I can't even hear the crickets chirping. I am driving myself insane.

But then, everything goes back to normal, leaving me to question my sanity. Was it all in my head? I tried to see a psychologist, but no one could help me. So I let the problem fester and manipulate my life. I am doing this somehow, so I must find a way to control these time gaps.

It went away for a bit, leaving me to ponder whether I finally stopped freezing time. I had a party tonight with my friend, Avery, and for once, I was excited about the future. I dressed in a short maroon dress, adorning myself with gold jewelry.

"Let's go before we're late," Avery said, peeking through the doorway of my room. I quickly tied my hair in a bun and headed out.

It was crowded with people as we first walked into the dorm. Music blasted in my ears as we danced the night away. I laughed, played games, and probably got a little too drunk. We were seated around a coffee table playing truth or dare when the music went out.

"What happened to the music?" I asked. No one responded. I looked up to see everyone frozen and, oh no, this can't be happening. Not right now. I dropped my head in my hands as I trembled, forcing myself to remain calm.

"Someone help me!" I screamed, abruptly standing up and shoving the cups off the table. I was all alone again. I couldn't control myself as I sunk to the floor in a heap. So pathetic.

"That's no way to behave at a party." I looked up at the man standing on the other side of the room. His dark clothes were like nothing I'd ever seen, and his face; he was breathtaking. His skin was so fair, like porcelain, and his eyes were like fire. I quickly rose but was too stunned to approach him.

"Who are you?"

He grinned as he walked closer, his shoes clicking with every step. "Oh, don't be startled. I heard you plead for help." Shame flushed my face as I wrung my hands together.

"But how?" I asked, barely able to form sentences. "How are you here and not frozen?"

He let out a silvery laugh as he stopped in front of me. His presence consumed the room as everything seemed to fixate on him. Part of me wanted to shrink back from his fierce gaze. "Because I'm not affected by time, love. It's so very mortal."

His peculiarity perplexed me. What does that even mean? "Well, can you please help me fix this? I think I'm the one doing this, and I can't stop it." I wanted to cry at my desperation and how stupid I must've sounded, but he didn't act like I was insane.

"You must be so terribly confused. This was carved in the stars long before you arrived. If it comforts you, you can learn to control the time gaps. I'm only glad I found you first."

"What the hell are you talking about?" I demanded, suddenly irritated with how bizarre this was. He studied me before he spoke.

"Love, I've come to kill you."