Kristin’s pov

I fell asleep and straight into a nightmare. Just like every night ever since I could remember. The present nightmare feels like it’s really happening. I’ve been having this same nightmare for a month. In the nightmare, I’m in bed sleeping and wake up to see something but when I wake up in the morning I don’t remember what that something was. All I know is, it’s too scary and I’m better off not knowing but I don’t think I can take having this nightmare again.

I could feel the nightmare coming and my heart rate sped up in horror just thinking of what was to come. I tried to wake up but it was no use, it was like someone was forcing me to have the nightmare and for a reason I didn’t know. Why do I keep on having this nightmare? What does it even mean? Will it ever stop? I was losing sleep over the nightmare, the only time I actually slept was during the nightmare. No matter how much I tried to stay awake, I always managed to fall asleep. When I was tired, it was impossible to stay awake. The nightmare goes on for hours as well which can’t be good for me and has got to stop.

Finally, I awoke and the nightmare was over. As usual, my brain had no memory of what I had seen. I rushed out of bed to prevent falling back to sleep and back to the nightmare. I stripped until bare and got into the shower. I needed a shower before work.

I started working when I was 18, I had no choice because I had just left home. My parents disowned me because they thought my birth was a mistake, they never wanted me and I never saw any love from them. As soon as I turned 18, my parents deemed me old enough to look after myself and told me to leave. I didn’t put up a fuss or anything because I didn’t want to stay somewhere where I wasn’t wanted so I packed my stuff then left and never looked back. It was difficult at first, I had no money and had nowhere to go.

I eventually found a homeless charity who took me in. Living there wasn’t pleasant, the room I was given was old with dust everywhere. The bed was on it’s last legs with a creaky mattress and the room was always occupied with at least one rat which gave me the creeps and it meant I had to sleep with one eye open to make sure it didn’t bite me. I guess it was a small price to pay to have a roof over my head and 3 meals a day. The food wasn’t great, it was bland or unhealthy but without it, I would have died.

When I found an office job and got it, I was so happy. The pay wasn’t much but after 2 years of saving every last penny, I was able to afford the deposit for a flat. It was on the first floor of 12 floors and wasn’t much but it was better than the homeless charity.

It’s been 4 years since I left my parents and I don’t regret a thing. I still have the same job in an office but I don’t mind, I like my job and I like living independently. I don’t have to worry about anyone else and am only responsible for myself.

I got out the shower and changed into my underwear and work uniform which consisted of black trousers, shirt and jumper with black flat shoes. I combed my straight blonde hair and tied it up with a band. Then I applied a little make up of eyeliner around my eyes and mascara on my lashes with a light moisturiser to my face.

I grabbed my Jacket and car keys before getting into my blue car. I decided to stop at a café for breakfast. I had eggs, bacon and hash browns with orange juice. A fry up in the morning was never a good idea but I was craving it and had to have one.

When I finished eating, I drove to work with a coffee.

When my shift was over, I made my way home. It was 6.30pm by the time I arrived home. I loved coming home, it meant I could relax. I changed out of my uniform to white shorts and a light yellow tank top with white woolly slippers. I made some cheese pasta for dinner and after eating it, I went straight to bed to fall asleep while completely forgetting that the nightmare was on it’s way.

When I did remember, I waited and waited for the nightmare to come but that night it never did. I didn’t dream of anything, how strange.

Then I woke up in the middle of the night. It was pitch black in the room and I couldn’t see a thing. I felt something move on my bed, it seemed to be getting closer until I could feel someone’s breath on my face. I moved back hurriedly without thinking and ended up crashing into the headboard of my bed.

“Are you alright?” a deep voice asked in the darkness as it sent shivers down my spine. It sounded like a guy’s voice but I couldn’t be sure if it was a guy or a girl without seeing them.

“Who are you?” I asked as I tried to catch a glimpse of who I was talking to but failed.

“Nobody,” the voice trailed off.

It looks like it’s gone. I got out of bed to switch the light on and looked towards my bed to see that no one was there. Maybe I imagined it all or did I?