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Was digging through some old journals and found this
7 years ago
Just felt like posting it again.
He awoke, realizing that at last he must have fallen asleep.
Uncertain of just what it was that roused him, he fumbled for the knob of the lamp beside him.
The faint click brought a single fleeting second of peace before he realized the light was not working.
He could feel eyes on him from someone very close by.
The hair on the back of his neck was raised as a chill ran down his spine.
In panic, he froze.
The only thought in his head was to remain absolutely still.
As he waited, his mind tried to wrap itself around how exactly he had drifted off.
Had the sleeping pills finally taken effect?
He had forgotten to take one.
As his eyes began to adjust to the darkness, he was able to make out the glass of water on the table.
The lid was still on the pill bottle.
Yet the bottle was empty.
He felt a cold sweat breaking across his forehead.
It was at that moment he realized the door was open.
He strained to hear even the smallest sound out of place.
Seconds turned to minutes as the droplets rolled down the side of his face.
Outside, he could hear the leaves rustling, the faint sound of the highway, a distant siren.
As the pounding of his heard slowly dimmed from his ears, he held his breath.
Was his mind playing tricks on him again, or did he hear faint breathing from the hall?
Willing his eyes open, he forced himself to stare into the open doorway.
Goosebumps rippled across his arms as he searched the inky blackness for even a hint of movement.
Everything was so peaceful, yet everything felt so still.
He could hear the breathing.
He could sense a presence.
In that moment, he felt an insomniatic fear like never before.
Summoning what little courage he could muster, he called out.
"Who's there?"
No answer.
If there was someone there, why would they answer?
There was someone there.
He could hear the breathing.
The sleeping pills were gone.
The light didn't work.
He could feel his heart starting to race once more.
The room itself seemed to expand and contract with each of his faint breaths.
He was half-expecting to see some nightmarish creature crawling up over the covers.
This wasn't sleep paralysis, was it?
He could move his arms, but his legs refused to budge.
His instincts would not let him leave the bed.
Once more, he strained to see or hear anything.
He held his breath, waiting.
Finally his raw fear got the better of him.
His voice cracked as he nearly shrieked.
"Who are you?"
As he waited, he realized how comforting it would feel if something actually did happen.
The silence and the stillness were beginning to fray his nerves.
At that moment, there came a faint voice from the darkness, the very same which had roused him.
"Wake up."
He awoke, realizing that at last he must have fallen asleep.
Uncertain of just what it was that roused him, he fumbled for the knob of the lamp beside him.
The faint click brought a single fleeting second of peace before he realized the light was not working.
He could feel eyes on him from someone very close by.
The hair on the back of his neck was raised as a chill ran down his spine.
In panic, he froze.
The only thought in his head was to remain absolutely still.
As he waited, his mind tried to wrap itself around how exactly he had drifted off.
Had the sleeping pills finally taken effect?
He had forgotten to take one.
As his eyes began to adjust to the darkness, he was able to make out the glass of water on the table.
The lid was still on the pill bottle.
Yet the bottle was empty.
He felt a cold sweat breaking across his forehead.
It was at that moment he realized the door was open.
He strained to hear even the smallest sound out of place.
Seconds turned to minutes as the droplets rolled down the side of his face.
Outside, he could hear the leaves rustling, the faint sound of the highway, a distant siren.
As the pounding of his heard slowly dimmed from his ears, he held his breath.
Was his mind playing tricks on him again, or did he hear faint breathing from the hall?
Willing his eyes open, he forced himself to stare into the open doorway.
Goosebumps rippled across his arms as he searched the inky blackness for even a hint of movement.
Everything was so peaceful, yet everything felt so still.
He could hear the breathing.
He could sense a presence.
In that moment, he felt an insomniatic fear like never before.
Summoning what little courage he could muster, he called out.
"Who's there?"
No answer.
If there was someone there, why would they answer?
There was someone there.
He could hear the breathing.
The sleeping pills were gone.
The light didn't work.
He could feel his heart starting to race once more.
The room itself seemed to expand and contract with each of his faint breaths.
He was half-expecting to see some nightmarish creature crawling up over the covers.
This wasn't sleep paralysis, was it?
He could move his arms, but his legs refused to budge.
His instincts would not let him leave the bed.
Once more, he strained to see or hear anything.
He held his breath, waiting.
Finally his raw fear got the better of him.
His voice cracked as he nearly shrieked.
"Who are you?"
As he waited, he realized how comforting it would feel if something actually did happen.
The silence and the stillness were beginning to fray his nerves.
At that moment, there came a faint voice from the darkness, the very same which had roused him.
"Wake up."
