Demons in my Dreams

Chapter Four

It's been almost a week since Emily's last visit from the demon in her dreams. She settles herself into bed smiling from ear to ear due to her date night with her attractive new love Blain Ravens. She thinks of him and the dinner date she just left. An image of Blain appears inside Of her mind. Standing about 6 feet in height, his muscular body weighs about 180 pounds, while his hair is jet black speckled with gray, lastly his olive color skin tone completely contrasts his glowing green eyes. Emily's body shivered at the thought of him. She knew she was falling in love with Blain even though they'd only been on five dates.

It's 3 A.M and Emily has violently awakened to sweat pouring off of her entire body, panting like a dog in heat. "Please leave me alone" Emily shrieks. "What do you want, who are you?" She sobs into her pillow. She feels his breath on the back of her neck still panting and panting. She hears him whisper... "You can never escape your boogie man Emily!" Emily stands up frantic, changes her sweat-drenched clothing, and decides to write everything she feels down about her nightmares.

Invasion shadows everywhere in the night.

All around me causing fright.

I'm scared, I look away.

All at once, the sky turns grey.

I close my eyes and feel the fear.

I feel his presence, I know he's here

I feel his touch inside my skin

I try to fight but I can't win

I cry and sob with so much pain

In my mind, I go insane

No one is there to hear me scream.

I drift away and pretend to dream.

I tell myself that it's all fake

My dreams aren't real and I'll awake.

Emily scribbles down the words as fast as her fingers would write. She tries so hard to recall the things she'd seen in her dream although she can only remember what he felt like. The touch of his fingertips burning through her skin, his moist breath beneath her ear, the smell of fear all around her. She's left with nothing else when she awakes besides a glimpse of a shadow of a man. Emily knows this man she's sure of it but can't place who he is.

Dawn is approaching and Emily knows it's too late to try and salvage the night although it is Saturday morning she still has many things to do before heading to the bakery. Emily decides to get up and make a nice weekend breakfast for Dakota, Lucas, and Damian. One favorite for each child. Pancakes for Dakota. Bacon for Damian, and eggs for Lucas. Emily grabs the bacon and eggs from the fridge only to realize her hands were still trembling from last night's episode. Lately, she seems to spend the majority of her time scolding herself for reacting constantly to what should only be considered a bad dream. Thoughts of her past fill her mind as she thoughtlessly continues breakfast. She suddenly hears his voice whisper to her one last time. " Many people's boogie men aren't real but your Emily, yours has always been real and will always be real." Emily drops the gallon of milk she's holding splattering all over the floor making a huge crashing noise. Damian comes running from the other room grabbing her in such a warm comforting embrace, "Mom! Are you alright he shouts." Emily could barely hear his words over her racing thoughts. "Damian, what are you doing?", Emily whispers back. " Mom you must've dropped the milk. I'm helping you.", he says in a sorrowful tone. "Yes, I'm fine Emily says staring into the distance. "Let's just clean this mess up baby."

After a traumatic morning, Emily is finally ready to head off to the bakery, she blows her kids a kiss as she's walking out the door. "Emily get it together!" She yells in her mind. To the bakery, Emily chants the words boogie man, boogie man, boogie man. Who are you? What are you? She whispers into the air. Are you even real? She wonders to herself.

When Emily arrived at the bakery, she walked in and Sheila was prepping for today's menu in the back. Sheila called out To Emily " Hey Em, what's up. We'll be ready to open in about 15 minutes." "Alright!, Emily shouts back at Sheila from right behind her. They both giggle although knowing Emily as long as Sheila has she can see the distress in her eyes. " What's going on Em", Sheila says in a concerned tone. "Is it the nightmares again?", Sheila asks. Emily takes a folded piece of paper out of her pocket handing it to Sheila without uttering a word. Sheila reads it aloud to herself and looks at Emily with a discerned look."Emily, this is a magnificent poem but don't you think it's time to get some help for this, maybe see a doctor or something", Sheila states matter of factly. "I don't know honestly Sheila but I do know it isn't something I'm prepared to consider right now.", Emily says back. " Truthfully I'd appreciate it if we just open the bakery and pretend for the day I'm not going insane, everything is how it should be." Emily sneers. "Fine! Whatever you want boss. I won't bring it up again." Sheila shoots back in a mocking tone.

  Sheila unlocked the doors and customers came flooding in for the buy one get one free special. As soon as Emily filled the pastry case it was empty. Emily finished filling the pastry case for the third time that morning but as she looks up she notices a tall man towering over her. "Blain!", Emily shouts. " I uh I wasn't expecting you.", Emily says playing with her long brown curls. "Emily, you always look great.", Blain said back peering into her eyes. Brain went on to tell Emily, "I'm sorry to show up out of the blue but there is something I needed to ask you that just couldn't wait." "Alright.", Emily said stepping from behind the counter. " What's up Brain?" Blain took a small step back crouching down on one knee holding a tiny little box. Tears poured from Emily's eyes while the entire bakery waited in anticipation. Emily, I love you more than I've ever loved anyone else. I know we've only been on a few dates but I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Emily stared down at blain through blurred teary eyes. Brain, I do want to marry you although we should talk before you give me that ring. Please don't be angry blain. I do I love you too! I've never been so happy since the day I first met you. Let's talk tonight and if you still feel the same way we will announce it to Dakota, Lucas, and Damian. Alright, Emily, we'll talk but I promise you from now until forever there will never be anything you could say to make me stop loving you. You are my soulmate Emily, my one true love. I can't wait to spend forever with you, Dakota, Lucas, and Damian. I love those kids. I will spend my entire life making sure you four are happy, healthy, and have everything you will ever need.

Please Blain just let me share some things about my past with you before you... Sshhhh... I love you, Emily, it doesn't matter to me what is in your past. I know about the children's father and none of that has stopped me from falling in love with you. O.Kay. o.Kay, I'll marry you! I love you to Blain! We'll talk tonight and then take the kids out to celebrate and make the announcement. The entire bakery cheered throwing out congratulations from every angle. Emily smiled from ear to ear through her tears. Sheila cried as well, hugging Emily as tight as she could. Hold up the ring one of her guests shout out. Oh my god honey, it's beautiful some women shout out in the distance. I'll bet you feel like the luckiest girl in the world a kid called out.

I'm so happy for you Emily Sheila says quietly. I can't believe you are finally getting your chance to be happy and move on. Do not let these nightmares ruin things for you. Please Emily discuss it with Blain and go get help. Let yourself be happy this time. Nothing in your past can hurt you now. The perfect guy for you just proposed to you, Mr. Tall, dark, and handsome. How cliche, Emily giggled back. Who cares, Emily. Blain, he loves you, nothing you can say or do is going to change that. He is the perfect guy for you, Emily. Be happy with him. He loves you, Dakota, Lucas, and Damian and you know Lucas and Damian can truly be handfuls. Dakota sometimes her attitude can make the pope want to smack her. He's A wonderful man, has a decent job, and wants to take care of all of you. Let him!!! Sheila says in a stern tone.