It's just a dream

The Magic Carousel

I walked through the cold forest, my light sweater barely being enough to keep me warm. I considered turning around, reliving memories of my friends and I playing on the broken down rides couldn't be worth losing a finger. I followed the old broken trail, hoping it'd still lead to the park, as I got closer I could swear I heard laughing around me. I tried to shake it off as just my over imagination but it didn't stop me from being on my toes. Closer and closer I came, looking at the different trees and falling in love with their unique leaves and flowers. My mind went quiet as I found it, the same old place I'd visit with friends when I was a teenager, I felt a smile crawl onto my face as I walked up and through the park, looking at the broken down rides with their rusting seats. I came up to the carousel, fond memories of my old friends and I running around and taking pictures of each other on the ride. I gently put my hand on horses back, feeling how cold it was, I dusted off some of the leaves and dirt starting to settle on it's saddle. Without a second thought I hopped on feeling like a child again, I gently let my head rest on the cold bar. Feeling exhausted from the long walk from home, I finally felt at rest as I listened to the small birds chirping in the distance, I slowly felt myself starting to fall asleep to the sound of wind blowing through the leaves. Suddenly I felt a jolt underneath me, startled, I quickly opened my eyes and looked around seeing the carousel was circling, the prancing horses and carriages  going up and down the children on them cheering and laughing. I could hear the music from the machine and many more surrounding me. As the ride came to a halt, I jumped off and everything fell silent. No more laughing children, no more ride music, all that was left was the sound of metal moving from the cold breeze and birds chirping in the trees. I shook my head and sighed deeply looking around,  "it . . must of just been a dream" I tired telling myself while I looked around the cold abandoned park. I sighed shivering and decided that maybe now was a good time to head back home, it already seemed like it was getting dark.

As I made my way back into my apartment, I locked the door behind me settling down on the couch. I yawned grabbing my laptop and working on my essay for my history class that was definitely overdue. As an hour came and went, I finished my last sentence and submitted the essay hoping I wouldn't have to worry about it too much. I set my laptop down and laid back scrolling on my phone looking for something to do. As my mind began to wander I remembered what happened at the abandoned park, wondering how a dream could feel so real. I sighed and put my phone down fully focusing on this thought, I felt a shiver run down my spine as I remembered the children laughing. I sat up and shook my head walking to my room, I sat on my bed figuring I just needed to sleep a bit more cause clearly I wasn't thinking straight. Laying my head on my soft pillow I could feel myself slowly fall asleep, drifting off from the exhaustion. 

My feet touched the cold floor looking around I could feel I wasn't alone. I began running as fast as I could but noticed I wasn't moving at all, staying in the same place running away but not going anywhere. I looked around once again seeing a shadow emerge from behind a dark tree, their features hidden by their hoodie. I tried to talk but words didn't come out, as they come closer I could hear my heart beat quicken. . . I woke up in a cold sweat, breathing heavily and looking around franticly. "Just a dream. . .It was just a dream. . ." I kept repeating to myself as I tried to calm my breathing, laying back and staring at the ceiling I tried to avoid thinking about the dream. Maybe if I ignore it, it'll go away  because it's just a dream, right? I rolled my eyes and laid on my side closing my eyes and trying to fall back to sleep.