A lost slumber

III

I still think about that dream of my grandma from time to time . After all, that was the first time I realized that my dreams were real . It wasn't my imagination , and I wasn't delusional . I was just different .

Over the years I realized a pattern and I grew to recognize it . Each night I went to sleep , I dreamt of someone's future , and oftentimes I didn't know who they were . I never dream of the same person twice. If I am closely related to the person I discovered that I could see more of their future. The time can vary ; I can see into a stranger's future from 6 hours to a day and ,based on the dream I had about my grandma , if I dream about someone I am closely related to it can last for days . I never know when exactly they come true ; I'm given vague hints like changes in the area or detail .

But this dream was different. Like many of other dreams it was of a complete stranger but I never lived through a stranger's life like I just did . I went to sleep and I dreamt one minute into this stranger's future . Before today I never knew how long a minute really lasted.

In this dream I was tied up to a chair , my mouth was gagged , my wrist was tied behind my back and I couldn't see anything . The air was still and musty. The smell of the area made me nauseous. I tried to move discreetly but it was useless, the chair I was in was old and rusty . Any movement I made could clearly be heard and it only took a second for me to be noticed .

I heard movement . Heavy footsteps came closer towards me but I couldn't tell which direction they were coming from . I wondered were they behind me? In front of me ? On my left or right side?

Suddenly I felt a warm body approach me from behind , but their body gave me chills . They started caressing my hair and I felt pure disgust take over me . I felt tears roll down my cheek . "What the hell is going on ?" I thought . I felt fear, disgust, and completely nauseated but I didn't reveal what I was feeling . I couldn't allow whoever this person was to know that they evoked anything out of me. Swiftly, but carefully they took the gag out of my mouth . In a dry bitter voice I asked , " What do you want from me ?"

I soon felt something cold press against my neck as someone said , " Quiet Ezme , you look your best when you're vulnerable ." I felt speechless .How did they know my name? Everything seemed to suffocate me , I couldn't breathe ,and I passed out .

When I woke up I was in my room covered in sweat with tears rolling down my cheek . I had 5 blissful seconds before I realized my memory and the shocking reality of the dream came back to me . I could breathe again but I still felt kind of uneasy . I've seen horrible things happen to people but usually I know what leads up to it . I don't know what led up to this " Ezme" being tied up to a rusty chair and in a musty place ... This startled me . I check my phone and it's 12 am , April 23rd .

I decide to go back to sleep. I have school in 8 hours . I close my eyes as I brace myself for the next dream. It's no surprise to me that I don't get the answers that I so desperately yearn for . The next time I wake up, it's 6 am.

The day will continue , so it's no use pondering about the dreams I've just had . I drag myself out of bed and get ready.

At 6:30, I grab my laptop,bookbag, phone, mini bookbag , lip gloss , glasses, and head down stairs . Before I head towards the kitchen, I put my laptop in my bookbag, and place my bookbag by the door. I pass by the white decor in the living room and a couple vacant rooms to get to the kitchen .

When I get to the kitchen , I notice that the coffee machine is on and I think dad must be getting ready for work . I went to the cabinet , grabbed the cereal, went to the fridge , grabbed the milk , and made myself a bowl of cereal . I sit down at the marble table( in the middle of the kitchen) and I poke at the cereal as I try to forget about my out of the ordinary dream . I look down at my cell phone to pass the time. School starts at 8:15 am , it's 6:45 . Better early than sorry.