Voices

    It all started that night, in my own home. The sounds, the scratching, the constant footsteps on the ground at midnight. I kept telling myself that it was all in my head, that it was just my brain going insane... but was it? Every time I'd turn on my bedside lamp, nothing was there. Nothing was ever there. Even when the scratching sounded like it was coming right from under my bed, even when I swore I could feel faint breathing by my ear, and even when it was as if I could feel something standing right beside me, glooming over my still figure in the night. The sounds began to keep me awake. I was too afraid to fall asleep, that whatever was there was going to get me. The paranoia ate away at my brain, tearing away bits and pieces of my sanity. I wanted to move out so badly, but I could barely afford the rent of this crappy place. I was trapped inside this madness, any way of escape blocked.

    I wanted it to stop. I needed it to stop. But what could I do?

How do you stop something, that isn't even there?

    That's the thing. I couldn't. It started out by me just hearing a slight whisper. Faint, but there. Then it grew. It grew from small sounds to constant voices. Now, the monster consumed everything in my mind. I couldn't block it out, every night I'd try to cover my ears screaming at it to just STOP but it wouldn't, and I hated it. Now it wasn't only in the night anymore, I started to hear them during the day as well. I couldn't focus, the voice telling me horrible, terrifying things.

    I couldn't stand it anymore. I kept asking myself, why? Why me? Why did everything I ever worked for have to be thrown away?! I was only 19, I hadn't even lived yet. I wanted my old life back. Smiling, laughing, going out with my friends every weekend and partying with strangers. But they wouldn't leave. I pleaded, and begged, so many times. I cried, and sobbed, as they just laughed at me.

    I couldn't take it anymore. I just wanted it to go away. I wanted to live my free life again, without insanity dragging me down. I wanted to be free.

    Luckily, it's not that difficult to run away from it all.

    After all, it only takes a rope.

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The end.