𝔳𝔦𝔭𝔢𝔯 - 𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒔

01

I was in a forest: rich brown soil, wooden trees sprouting to the sun, birds chirping in harmony and pure bliss, and the smell of rain lingering in the air. If it weren't my first time here, I'd be mesmerized by the sights.

Unfortunately, it was my 5th, maybe 6th time here. There was rustling in the bushes in front of me and 4 golden bunnies jumped out from in between a few bushes on the sides. My ears were sharpened for the sound I grew to know so well.

Deep growling.

Animalistic and full of misdirected intent, intent to kill.

A green tiger jumped out at me from the bush in front of me and pinned me down. It roared in my face and bared its fangs at me. The first time I experienced this, I was scared and confused.

Now, I was tired. "Get it over with. You and I both know that every time I come here, you're waiting for me from behind a bush. You pounce on me and you roar in my face, but you don't kill me."

By now exhausted tears were flowing from my eyes and down the sides of my face. "Instead, you wait until my guard is down then you claw into my chest and every time you dig deeper and deeper until I wake up." The tiger stopped growling down at me and it got off of me.

This was the first time it let me up. I remained on my back, breathing heavily and the tears starting to dry. It nudged my leg with its paw and I slowly started to sit up. It looked at me with a heavy dark green gaze, emotions filling them until they overflowed. Then, I realized, it's as scared as I am.

Before I knew it, my hand was reaching out for it and when I was about to touch its fur; I got pulled back.

I jolted out of bed to the sound of my sister's screams. The shocked feeling I had was soon replaced with worry. Our mother, Melissa, ran out of her room to get to my sister and I lept out of bed, following her in a panic. "Rachel?" She unlocked the door, tattered with crosses and religious symbols. We stepped in and my sister's black and blue coloured short hair whipped around when she noticed us in the doorway.

Our mother went to her side and tried to comfort her to the best of her abilities while I shifted on my feet, anxiously. I knew our mom was exhausted beyond belief from barely sleeping and working night and day to provide for us.

She loved us and we loved her too. I knew we were burdening her with our "problems", but she would just tell me that she would starve every day if it meant we were getting fed. "Mom, why don't you get some sleep and I'll stay with Rachel tonight?" My voice came out more brash than I had intended, and when she turned to face me, I gave her an apologetic smile.

She sighed in exhaustion before nodding her head and kissing Rachel's head. As she walked past me, she whispered into my ear, "You're too kind for this world, Azar. I love you, goodnight." She kissed my cheek and went off to her room.

I stepped further into Rachel's room and closed the door, going to sit on her bed. She gave me a tired look before leaning her forehead into my shoulder. "Did you have that dream again tonight?" Her voice was soft and small.

I nodded my head, "Yeah, I spoke to the tiger and it didn't attack me. So, I didn't wake up screaming this time." I heard her chuckle before she laid back down on her bed. "You had that nightmare again, didn't you?" I laid down beside her, my hands behind my head.

She nodded in agreement and I sighed. "Go back to sleep, Rach. I'll be here when you wake up." I heard her hum before her body relaxed into sleep.

I tried to sleep, but that green tiger plagued my mind and I couldn't help but wonder why its eyes were full of emotion and pain. Eventually, my eyes closed and my breathing paced out evenly.