That’s when I notice something peculiar in the mirror… It’s me, but it’s not me. The person is smiling at me, with nothing around them, just in a pitch dark nothingness. “No,” I whisper. Gripping the counter to make sure I’m not lost in the void I shut my eyes tight.
When I opened my eyes, I see light around me, I’m on the couch, and the time reads 7:00 am. I sit up and pinch myself to make sure this is real. The pain feels so real. I hear someone in the kitchen washing dishes.
“Yes sweetie?” The water faucet is turned off and she makes an appearance from around the corner of the dining room. A bright smile on her face, she wears a red and white checkered dress, her hair up in a bun. I get up and run to her, springing my arms wide to hug her..
“Mom, I had such a bad dream! I couldn’t wake up although I knew I was asleep,” I tell her, hiding my face in her side, still trembling from the horrible nightmare.
“Dear, who’s to say you’ve woken up?” I look up at her, confused, and note that her lips have a deep cut from ear to ear in a permanent smile.
“This is what you wanted right?” She asked while facing down towards me. “You’ll give anything to stay asleep?”
“Mom?” I call out and hear her reply.
8