Traversing the dark, I hear voices call out to me. Turning in every direction, there is no one that I see and I resolve the voices are in my head. Yet just to be sure, I begin to feebly respond. I'm not crazy; someone must be here. But why don't they answer me? Perhaps they are farther away than I first thought. With this in mind, I raise my voice. Crying out to anyone who might hear its shrillness and rush to my side. Still, my quickening cries go unnoticed. It is though I am alone. The air becomes thick and stale. I shout as I thrash about in the darkness~ twisting and turning desperately searching for a way out. Hideous laughter starts to echo all around me, or is it in my head? I can no longer distinguish this difference. In spite of my earlier proclamation, I believe it is safer if I settle with the fact that I am crazy instead. As I tremble, and my body begins to convulse with fear, I lower myself to the ground. I am alone. Pulling my knees up to my chin, I hold them tight to my body and I squeeze my old teddy bear against my stomach. She, at the moment, seems to be the only one that makes me question my craziness which I have now found. Could this be reality? If so, where am I at? Suddenly I am aware of a faint light in the distance. Where is it coming from? I don't know, but this may be my one chance to escape this horrible place- to get away... I must go. Mindfully, I stand knowing that this could be yet again another devious trick brewed up in my subconscious. For still, I am alone; however, with the odds against me, I must not put up resistance. I must make my way towards the light. It seems that with every step in the direction of this illumination I find the difficult act of breathing become less of a struggle. The air grows not so thick as I continue towards my destination. Again I hear voices~ no, not many, only one this time. Yet, I'm sure this voice does not originate in my head. It's coming from the brightening light ahead of me. Nearly to it now, I feel a distinct tremor rush over my being- I jolt awake in FRIGHT! Mother is sitting on my bedside cradling me in her arms, ever so gently shaking my hot and sweaty body. In my arms is my teddy bear- wonderful to me, though she's old and shoddy. I gaze up at mother who has a sweetly concerned look on her brow. It is now that I realize where, what, when, and how. As pitiful as it may seem... I was having a nightmarish dream.
-MS
