When the dark, empty street comes into my view, I almost welcome the abyss surrounding me. Compared to my real life outside of this recurring nightmare, this is something I'm beginning to look forward to each night.
I don't feel the pain of being on my feet for twelve hours a day. I don't feel the pain of hunger when I don't get to eat enough. I'm numb in this place; I'm free. For years, I was afraid of the endless darkness around me. But tonight, I am finding nothing frightening about it. I only feel comfort. It's not a nightmare tonight. It's just a dream.
My eyes squint into the darkness when I see something moving in the distance away from me. This is the third night that I have seen this man here. I won't let him get away from me this time; I need answers. I've been alone here every night since I've been having this nightmare. Who is he and why has he started showing up in my dream?
"Hey!" I yell as loudly as I can while I take off running towards him down the ever desolate street. "Please stop!"
The figure does as I request, letting his legs still as he stands with his back to me, his hands in his pockets as his shoulders tense at the sound of my voice.
I feel slightly out of breath, but I can tell I'm getting closer and closer to him. Finally, after what feels like hours, I catch up to the waiting figure and watch him carefully.
"Who are you?" I ask, breathlessly.
The man's shoulders tense even more, and he turns so his profile is seen. He doesn't look over his shoulder at me; instead, he stares off to the side.
He is ethereally beautiful; almost ghostly. His jawline is seemingly carved from stone and his tan skin is somehow glowing in the suffocating darkness surrounding us. His hair is falling carelessly down onto his forehead, its onyx black color gleaming just as brightly as his skin.
The man in front of me is seemingly lost in his own thoughts, staring off into the distance with his back still facing me.
Slowly, his eyes move to look over his shoulder right at me.
My breath immediately stops in my chest; his eyes are a beautifully intense dark brown color, and they are burning into my gaze as he slowly turns his entire body to face me.
He is wearing all black; his t-shirt, leather jacket, jeans and boots are all as black as his hair and his height causes him to tower over me as he keeps his eyes locked onto mine.
"Who are you?" I manage to repeat, my hands shaking at the intensity radiating from the man in front of me.
He narrows his eyes slightly, almost as if trying to see me more clearly in the darkness. He keeps his hands in his jean's pockets as he continues to stare silently at me.
My anxiety is slowly shifting into anger.
"Don't be a dick," I snap and his eyes widen. "I asked you a question. So can you just answer it so I can wake up and start my new day in hell?"
The corners of the beautiful stranger's mouth lift up and he relaxes his tense shoulders, letting his hands fall from his pockets to relax at his sides.
Tentatively, the stranger takes a step closer to me, and I take a step back.
"Who are you?" I ask again, my tone stronger than I feel.
"Wake up, Violet," the man says in a deep, rich tone of voice.
"How do you know my name?" I ask, my voice beginning to waver.
"Wake up," he repeats. "Wake up, Violet."
"Sleepyhead, wake up!"
I bolt upright in bed and feel my head hit against something hard.
"Damn it, ow!" I hear a man's voice say and my eyes widen. I quickly turn to see Jungkook sitting on my bedroom floor rubbing his forehead.
"Oh my god, hi!" I squeal as I fall out of bed and tackle him into a hug.
"Hi," he says in an amused voice, his arms wrapping around my waist as we lay on the floor in an embrace. "You wanna tell me about that bruise on your face?"
"No," I whisper as I get off of him and help him stand. "It's not a big deal. I just fell."
"Please don't lie to me, Violet," Jungkook says gently. "You're my best friend and I know when you're lying."
"Why are you here? I need to get ready for work," I say, glancing at the time. "Also, how did you get in? My dad and step mother are still sleeping, right?"
He sighs at my change of subject but decides not to comment on it. He holds up his keys and points to one of them. "I still have the key you gave me."
I smile fondly at the memory of getting the copy of my house key made one day when my step mother was being more aggressive than normal and my father's health was at an all time low. He insisted on getting a copy of my house key in case he ever needed to come and rescue me.
"Don't you have school?" I ask, frowning slightly as I realize how sore and stiff my muscles are. I know I should stop working so much but I need the money; the bills won't pay themselves just because I'm feeling overworked.
I cough a few times, which makes me feel light-headed, so I sit down on the edge of my bed and Jungkook frowns as he comes to sit down next to me. "I don't have a class until 9. Are you okay? You look kind of pale."
"Just a cold, I think," I say, rolling my eyes. "I really can't afford to be sick right now so I've been trying to just ignore it."
Jungkook sighs. "You're pushing yourself too hard for them."
"I have no other choice," I say before standing and walking over to my closet to grab a clean uniform. "I need to get ready for work, Kookie."
"Fine. But eat this before you go. You look like you've lost weight," he says in a gentle tone as he hands me a peanut butter chocolate chip cookie.
I smile at him gratefully. "Is peanut butter just our thing or something?"
He grins back at me brightly. "I've missed you, Violet. That promise is still true; if you ever need to be rescued, I will come and get you. You're more than welcome to live with me."
My smile drops slightly, and I try to turn away to hide it. "I'm not going to burden you with my problems, Kook. I love my dad and that's why I am here taking care of him."
"I know, I know," he sighs as he hugs me from behind. "I just worry about you."
"I know, I know," I mock him as I lean my head back against his chest. "Please text me when you get on campus. You always drive so recklessly and it makes me worry about you."
"Okay, mom," Jungkook jokes as he plants a chaste kiss to the top of my head before backing away from me. "Please stop working yourself so hard. If you need some money-"
"Stop," I say quietly. "I love you, Jungkook. Just go to school, okay? I'll talk to you later."
Jungkook's shoulders slump, but he knows better than to continue to argue with me. We've had this conversation numerous times.
"Eat," he says sternly, pointing to the cookie in my hand.
I roll my eyes and nod. "Yes, dad."
Jungkook laughs before sending me a quick wink and quietly making his way back downstairs. I sigh before quickly eating the cookie and getting ready for another long day at work.
