Trapped in Neverland

16

That night, dreams plague me. Dreams that show me dark things.

I stand alone in the dark, looking all around me. My body itself is lit up like a candle in the dark, but I am the only light source for what looks like miles. In every direction, I see black. I can look down at myself and see myself, but everything else is darkness.

I start to walk, and as I go, I sense eyes on me. I look all around and just see darkness, but then, I see Pan. He looks at me, and then he walks by me. He doesn't even see me at all. As he walks by, I reach my hand out and it passes through him like he's a ghost, or I am.

I look down at my hands, but they look as solid as ever, albeit aglow. I turn back towards where Pan was, but he is facing me now and staring at me.

Tears stream down his face. He then says in a warped voice, "I need your help, Tink ..."

"Where are you? Why do you need my help?" I ask.

"I'm trapped ..." His form flickers, and I think he's the one who isn't here. "Please, Tinkerbell, help me!"

I wake up in a cold sweat. Then I look at where Peri lays in her bed, but she doesn't stir in her sleep. She is still asleep. I sit up and get out of bed, then I pad downstairs. I walk into the kitchen and sit down at the table.

I pick up a cup of water and take a deep sip.  I look at the nearby window, where I can see beyond the house. The night sky is beautiful and star-speckled, but it feels ... vacant.

I stand up and walk over to the window, and peer out into the night. I look at the sky. Something is wrong with it, tonight. But I don't know what. I turn away and take another drink of the cold water, but then I feel something behind me. When I turn around, I walk toward the back door.

When I reach the back porch, the wind blows through, and it feels kinda cold, despite the fact that today it was around 75℉ outside.

"Tinkerbell ... help ... me ..."

"Pan?" I whisper, looking all around me.

But he's nowhere.

"Peter Pan?" I call into the night.

No answer. And, this sinking feeling tells me I will never see him in real life again. I don't know how to feel about that. I just don't know.