Flickering Flame

Prophetic

Elaine Jennings

My head was pounding. I thought I fell off my bed in my sleep, but the ground beneath me was soaked, as were my clothes, because we were being pelted with rain. I had to have been out here for a while, but how did I get here in the first place? I sat up and forced my eyes open to my surroundings.

I looked around and saw trees, seemingly endless as they extend beyond what I can see into the dark sky above me. Their branches grow in different directions, reaching out to whatever they could. The rain made it harder to see and harder to move as the wet ground became muddy beneath my feet and gripped my shoes with each step. I didn't recognize this place at all. Everything looked the same in each direction; trees, rain, mud, and darkness. I could go anywhere and it'd all be the same. The pounding was growing and my ears were starting to ring. Every step I take in an attempt to get anywhere only makes my head feel worse, and my surroundings are blending together indistinguishably. 

I hear him call my name, and my eyes open again. But this time they open to my room, and I'm in my bed. My clothes and hair are caked to my skin and I'm covered in my own sweat. The side of my head was hurting, but it was far better than how it was moments ago.

A shiver ran up my spine. My sweat was getting colder the longer I was awake and let it set into my skin. I push my blanket back and leave my bed. Shivers spread across my entire body and I start to shake when something outside my window catches my attention. I turn to my window and see the gap I left earlier. I stare at it for a minute, not exactly sure why, but something about it holds my attention for longer than it should; because I stared long enough to see something move.

I can barely make my feet move over the paralyzing fear that overtakes my body. Was there something outside of my window? I manage to move closer to the window, peering outside through the gap. It's too dark to make out anything, really.. I stare for a minute, waiting. I expected something to jump against the window, either a neighborhood cat, or...

That was the worst possible outcome. I felt a little embarrassed to even consider it. There wasn't anything valuable in the house, and not much money to hand over. I shuddered while thinking about what else someone could possibly want enough to break in.

I sat back down on my bed. The clock on my nightstand illuminated a small area in front of it.

3:37

It was the middle of the night. Of course I was paranoid. The dream didn't help either, but that's all it was. A dream I tell myself I wont go back to as my head drifts down to my pillow. 

✰

Michael Woods

Elaine.

That was the name of the girl who I loved. I loved her so hard I thought it would kill me. Instead, I was born anew. 

My life was bleak before her. Every face I saw was blank, meaningless and not worth the effort to remember. People became figures in the background blending together with no discerning qualities. All of them were the same copy and paste molds of each other. 

And then I saw her.