The night was calm, but my heart wasn't. I lay beside John, who was fast asleep, breathing softly. But my mind… my mind wasn't at peace.
Slowly, the darkness of sleep pulled me under, and soon, I found myself standing in my old school uniform, in front of that old, broken school gate. The sky was dark, and the wind blew cold against my skin. The place felt empty, too quiet… until I heard it—my name.
"Hey… you…" a voice called, whispering from the shadows.
I turned fast, but no one was there. Suddenly, students appeared—faces I knew… faces from my past. Their eyes were hollow, black, and cold. They all pointed at me, their lips curling into cruel smiles.
"You… you ruined us."
"You betrayed us."
"You're the reason I cried every night."
The voices got louder, mixing with cries and screams. I tried to run, but my legs felt heavy, like I was stuck. Tears ran down my face as the figures moved closer, grabbing me.
Then, I saw him… the boy I once hurt. His face was pale, eyes red. "Why did you break me?" he asked, voice shaking. "Why…?"
I screamed. "I didn't mean to… I was… I was scared…"
But the sky turned red, and the ground cracked open. Hands reached out, pulling me down into the darkness. I cried, begged, screamed for help.
"You will stay here… forever," the shadows whispered, wrapping around me tightly. I felt like I couldn't breathe.
"John… John…" I called weakly, but no one came.
Then… a dark figure appeared—it looked like me but… scarier, with blood-red eyes. "You can never run from what you did… Never."
I screamed and screamed until my voice broke.
Suddenly, I shot up from the bed, breath heavy, my whole body shaking. The room was dark, but John's arm wrapped around me. "Shhh… It's okay… I'm here," he whispered.
But I was cold… shivering badly. Tears rolled down my cheeks. That nightmare… it felt too real. My past… my sins… everything came back to haunt me.
John pulled me closer. "You're safe now… No one can hurt you anymore."
I cried silently in his arms, wishing that nightmare was just a dream… but deep down, I knew—those memories… those mistakes… they still lived inside me.
John held me tightly as I cried into his chest. His hand rubbed my back slowly, trying to calm the storm inside me.
"It's okay... I'm here... You're safe," he whispered again and again, but my heart still raced. My body shook with the fear that gripped me.
"John... don't let me sleep... please," I whispered, my voice trembling.
He kissed my forehead gently. "You have to rest... I'll be right here... nothing will harm you, I swear," he promised.
I stared at him for a while, my heart scared… but I was weak. Slowly, my eyelids grew heavy, and I gave in. I closed my eyes, falling into sleep once again—hoping for peace. But peace didn't come.
Instead, another nightmare dragged me back into that dark, cold world.
I was running through the forest, barefoot, my clothes torn. Laughter echoed behind me—cold, heartless laughter. I tripped and fell, my hands scraped against the rough ground. Shadows surrounded me, whispering my sins, my mistakes, everything I wanted to forget.
"Murderer of hearts..."
"Breaker of souls..."
"You don't deserve happiness..."
The words stabbed me, tearing through my chest.
I screamed, "Stop! Please stop!"
But no one listened. I was alone. No John, no one—just the voices.
Hours passed… or maybe it was days—I didn't know. I was lost in that world, unable to wake up.
Outside, morning came. The sun shined, but the room felt cold.
John sat by my side, watching me sweat and cry in my sleep. My face pale, lips trembling, tears non-stop. He called me, shaking me gently.
"Wake up... Please, wake up..." his voice cracked, worry filling his eyes.
But I was trapped.
The bedsheets were wet from my sweat and tears. My whole body weak, struggling.
Finally, as if someone pushed me out of the dream, I gasped for air, sitting up weakly. My body felt cold, and my head dizzy.
John hugged me instantly. "You're awake... thank God... you scared me..."
I couldn't speak. My throat hurt, my body was heavy. I felt sick, really sick.
John touched my forehead. "You're burning up... just rest, I'll call the doctor," he said, panicking.
But even as I lay back down, closing my eyes, the nightmares kept flashing. My heart screamed for help.
"John... I don't want to sleep... I'm scared... I..." I tried to talk, but I was too weak.
John kissed my hand gently. "I'll stay... no more dreams... I promise... I'll fight them with you," he whispered.
But deep down, I knew the pain inside me wasn't done yet. Even in sickness, the past chased me… the guilt, the heartbreak, everything.
And as the day passed, I drifted again, wondering if I'd ever find peace… or if I was truly cursed to live in my nightmares forever.