Oil on Canvas

Olio su Tela

I was awake but I could not move a limb. Or open my eyes.

            I seemed to be frozen into place; but by what or by whom? I knew I was still in my room: I could smell the familiar scent of my bed, and feel a pillow behind my head. I inhaled through my nose but I could not get enough air. I told myself to keep calm, and started to control my breathing. I began to recall I was at a party before I went home. Nothing was suspicious about the occasion. Did I someone spike my drink? If someone did, the effects would have happened during the gathering and I would not be able to drive myself home.

            I lay there, controlling my breathing, trying not to panic. I decided to think of happy thoughts to distract myself. I felt someone sat on my bed. My heart skipped a beat. God, I am in trouble, I thought. I panicked, knowing too well I was the only person living in my house. Who can this be, I wondered. I wanted to stand but the effort was draining. I wanted to open my eyes but something must have had glued the lids shut. If only I could see—

            I felt the stranger's hands on my ankles. And, as if teasing me, those hands settled on my knees. I heard a rustling of the mattress, and I felt the stranger's face rubbing my crotch. I screamed. Yes, I did scream but I could not hear my voice. It felt like my throat was going to explode because of the silence I produced. I cried for help though I knew it was hopeless. The thought of being violated by a stranger, surrounded by darkness and silence, was too much for my mind to bear.

            Harder and harder the face rubbed at my sensitive region. I tried to move my legs, tried to kick the intruder off me. The rubbing stopped and the stranger's weight left the bed. I was relieved for a moment though still nervous about the stranger's intentions.

            I felt the stranger breathing on my face; I tried not to twitch. From the sound and pattern of its breathing, I suspected the assailant might be one of those night monsters in folklore. I kept my lips shut. In a second, the assailant was on my chest, its weight was great. I thought I heard a rib broke. My body protested for air.

            The creature let out a sound, multifarious and euphonic, almost female, almost male, shrill yet thundering. Our Father who art in heaven, I started to recite in my mind hoping some divine intervention would make the creature stop or disappear. Hallowed be your name— but my prayer seemed to make the creature louder and its weight heavier; this ordeal seemed to last forever. I heard another breaking rib but I was somehow numb from the pain. Goosebumps crawled on my skin as I felt the creature's hands, cold and scaly hands, on my shoulders. I stopped praying. The creature quieted and withdrew its hands. Its weight removed from my chest. I took this opportunity to move my arms and legs; it was useless.

            When I tried to open my eyes something curious happened. I was able to unclose my right eye but only halfway. To my surprise, sunlight already flooded my room. I felt a movement on my bed and I directed my right eye, but I could not see anyone or anything. What do you want from me, I demanded in silence. I tried to force open the other eye. I was glad, then, to be able to move my left hand though with some difficulties. I forced my left hand to my face and tried to unclose my left eye with the index and thumb. I did feel my hand but when I tried to look at it with my right eye, there was no hand at all. I tried to move my left hand to my mouth several times, touching my lips, but I could not see it.

            My right eye began to close. To keep it open felt like carrying tomes of books. What is happening to me, I wondered. Darkness enveloped my universe. I began to notice my reality being altered: I felt my bed was breathing and, moments later, I was starting to sink into the mattress. I struggled to move, fearing of drowning.

            Instincts told me to move one foot. Just one of my feet and everything will be fine. I tried to relax and focused on feeling my right foot. Minutes had passed and yet I could not feel my foot. I was beginning to doubt if I still have any foot attached. When I was about to give up, I felt my hallux or big toe rubbing the second toe. I concentrated on the hallux and gave all my strength to make it rub harder on the second toe; the process felt like catching a good radio signal. Slowly, I gained control on my foot, and I kicked. My eyes opened. Brightness! Freedom!

            My heartbeat was loud. I kept pushing away the thought of a monster inside my room; I felt relieved that none of it was real. I shifted to another side of my bed and tried to make myself comfortable. What just happened to me? Am I getting old, I wondered. I wiped the sweat on my forehead with the bed sheets. I took the pillow behind my behind and placed it above my chest. I thought maybe I should call a doctor or something; I was curious about my condition. Then it struck me: I was succumbing to sleep; its grip began from my abdomen, then crawling down to my legs and up to my neck. My eyes became heavy in an instant and were shutting without permission. No, I did not want to sleep. I kicked, and the grip lost its power.

            I left my bed. My knees were shaking as I coughed; it took time to balance myself. I felt parched; I tasted blood in my throat. I walked hurriedly to the door and went out of my room, away from my cursed bed, and headed to the kitchen. Passing through the refrigerator I noticed a yellow note I posted earlier; it read MONDAY: DON'T BE LATE, IMPORTANT MEETING. The meeting was scheduled to take place at a cake shop I frequent. I was excited by the thought of telling my friends about what just happened to me; I was curious if they ever had a similar experience. I looked at the yellow note again, I laughed at my handwriting.

             I continued to get a glass from the top shelf near the kitchen sink. With the glass in my left hand, I opened the refrigerator with the right and put out a half-filled water jug. I felt the condensation on the jug; the coldness seemed to strengthen my spirit.

            I poured water into my glass; I was never this excited to drink before. I let out a laugh. I was about to quench my thirst when I noticed I could not lift my glass. The water jug slipped from my hand. I wanted to get out of the kitchen. But the paralysis spread from my hand to my chest and down my legs. My eyes closed, and I was awake but I could not move a limb—I could smell the familiar scent of my bed—I felt the stranger's hands on my ankles—Harder and harder the face rubbed my crotch—I begged for mercy—I screamed but I could not hear my voice—I unclosed my right eye but darkness enveloped my universe—I was awake but I could not move a limb—I could smell my bed—I felt the stranger's hands on me—Harder the face rubbed my crotch—I begged for mercy—I could not hear my voice——Our Father who art in heaven—Somebody please wake me up!