It was a calm October night, everything was silent and still, everything but Rain, a 19 year old, who was up due to his rather unhealthy habits. He sat in the corner of his room, holding a sharpened steel blade. It was cool to the touch in his now shaking hand. As he pressed the blade against his skin, he couldn't help but let out a quiet cry of both agony and relief. As the blade punctured his skin, tears slowly rolled down his flushed cheeks, and a smile of relief began to form. He sat there watching the blood trickle down his forearm, to his fingertips, then to his carpet. After some time passed he got up and walked to the bathroom. He started the shower and got undressed. While stepping into the shower he winced, as the steaming water made his fresh cuts sting. After washing his cuts and drying off, he put some clothes on and climbed into bed. It didn't take long for the now exhausted Rain to drift to sleep. The next morning he woke up and looked at the clock. It was 11:05. He was late, again. He quickly jumped out of bed and started getting dressed. While he was getting clothes, he started thinking of excuses on why he was late. He got his keys, and started up his truck. As he was driving to work he stopped at a convenience store. He got out and left the truck running. Ding Ding. The sound of the door startled him. He jumped and blushed slightly, hoping that nobody saw. He walked around the store and finally found what he was looking for, apple juice. He went over to the energy drinks and grabbed one of them as well, then he went to the counter to pay. The cashier was an old lady, and had begun to think of Rain as a regular. He paid for his stuff and forced a smile out. The old lady smiled back. He left the store and got back in his truck.
Nothing really happened while driving the rest of the way to work. Finally, at 11:35, he got to work. His work was a radio station. He was in charge of the rock station, but he had a "friend" That always covered for him when he was late. He walked in and went to his recording studio. He dismissed his fill in and started commentating and playing some old rock songs. At around 10:00 he got out of work and headed home. He stepped into his room and collapsed on his bed. He drifted off to sleep within the minute. He was suddenly in a dark, ominous forest. He knew this place. He had been here before. It was clear to him he was in a nightmare, and he couldn't get himself to wake up. All he could do was sit at the base of a giant pine tree, as the whispers tortured him and made his sanity fade ever so slowly. Just as he was losing the last bit of sanity and was about to scream, the whispers stopped. In fact, all was quiet for once. Then he heard a calming female voice. "There's nothing to fear. I'm here for you." Rain started looking around for the source of the voice, but saw nothing. The ominous forest started to dissolve around him and a peaceful meadow slowly formed. Rain was confused, this had never happened in his other nightmares. "You're finally here" A voice said from behind him. He spun around and was shocked at what he saw. Standing there was a girl. She had light brown hair, and bright green eyes. She was on the short side, and was wearing a sweatshirt that was all too big on her. On her face, was a gentle smile. Her hand was stretched out, waiting to be taken. Rain hesitated at first, but then took her hand. She pulled him in close and smiled. "It's okay now, Rain," She said in a calming, almost angelic voice. Before Rain could respond, She slowly started to fade away, as did he. He woke up drenched in sweat, and looked at the clock. It was only 4:17. He sat up and looked around his dimly lit room, for once he didn't feel the need to cut. He got up and walked to his bathroom. He took off his sweat drenched clothes and got into the shower. After he was done he got out, got dressed, and looked at the clock. 5:29. He walked out of the house and started up his truck. He stopped in at the store, and walked in with a smile. The first natural smile that he had in awhile. He got his usual stuff and as he was walking to the counter, something caught his eye. It was a girl, but not just any girl. She was the one he had seen in the dream. As he stood there staring, The older lady walked up to him. "Are you okay? What are you looking at?" He looked at her and looked back. The girl had disappeared . "N-nothing," he replied, confused. He payed for his stuff and got back into his truck. He thought about seeing her. He knows he saw her. How did she disappear like that? Did I really even see her? Thoughts like these were racing through Rain's head. He decided not to think too much about it, and headed for work.
