Amarilla, Age 16

The trees rustled as the leaves, full and green, were lifted in nature’s song caught up in the wind. A blue jay flew past my head, a little too close for my comfort. I was running as fast as my small frame and legs would let me go. At times, I floated on the air, not quite flying but gliding.

It was happening again. The shadow figure chased me, blending with the trunks of the trees and the other shadows of the forest. I looked back. Where is it? I couldn’t see it and the light was fading fast. The sun was over head when it started chasing me and as I ran it slowly made its way down.

It was now dark. The night engulfed me and let the shadow blend into everything in the forest. I was sweating and my hair, damp with the salty moisture, clung to my forehead. I could no longer tell if it was behind me or if it was okay to stop running and find a place to hide.

I was still running when I heard the faint sound of a woman calling my name. She was whispering. Could that be it? It must be close. The thought passed through my head and I started running again, stumbling and tripping over the roots of the trees. I finally lost my balance and fell, arms splayed in front of me.

But the ground was not hard. Instead it felt like the soft warm comfort of my bed. Water was dripping on me now. Something was on my face. I opened my eyes from the tumble and nothing hurt.

Sparrow’s long wet tongue narrowly missed my eye, as I quickly closed them. It was the dream again. For years I’d had the same dream and it had never gotten any further. It always ended the same way. The sun would go down and I would stumble and come crashing down into my bed.

I reached out for Sparrow’s neck and buried my face in her fur. Something had to change.

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