It was just a dream, but I can’t stop thinking about it. Everything felt so real: the sensation, my emotion, and the sound of my panting breath. I still can feel it as if it had just happened to me in real life. I never fell asleep again after that and, as if I was cursed, it kept appearing every time I closed my eyes, even in the midday.


It’s been a week since the dream started appearing. I felt exhausted from losing so much sleep, but I was too afraid to close my eyes. Now, it was already past midnight, and I’d been tossing myself from left to right, unable to close my eyes without thinking about that damn dream. The air felt so warm and heavy that makes me suffocate. It’s not even summer, yet I sleep in the lightest nightgown I ever had and I am drenched in a cold sweat. I tossed the blanket to the floor and set the AC to the lowest temperature. I wish my husband was here. He always knows how to calm my mind and make me fall asleep.


I didn't realize when the room slowly turned darker. Then I felt something creeping in. As soon as I became aware, I jumped out of bed immediately and stormed out of my room. My heart thumping and I was panting hard. I leaned my body on the door to catch my breath. My hand held my chest tight. What the heck was that?


My eyes kept wandering, assessing every inch of my house. It seems like someone’s watching me from afar, but nobody’s here. My husband was traveling overseas for a business trip and he won't return until at least next week. Meanwhile, my daughter was at my parent's house for the whole spring break.


I think I already lost my mind. Maybe I should take a cold water to snap some sense. Or perhaps cold water and warm milk will help me fall asleep.


When I walked down the stairs, I didn't think it would be the longest journey I ever take inside my house. Whenever I reached the bottom of the stairs, I'd end up on the same floor again. What the hell is going on? I thought I already walked down the stairs, but why do I keep repeating the same thing?


BANG, BANG, BANG!


Suddenly, a loud banging noise came out from my bedroom. My body flinched, and I whipped my head towards the closed door. My heart pounds frantically against my ribs and I can’t take my eyes away from it. I took a slow step back, but then my foot stumbled on something hard. Fuck! My whole body froze. Ice seemed to seep into my bones. My eyes were wide open, and my pupils darted around. I turned my head slowly. My shoulder slumped as I felt a wave of relief was over me. I let out a big sigh. I hadn't even realized I was holding my breath. Turns out, it was just a damn guardrail.


Another banging noise came from the same direction. This time was louder, and it seemed like someone, or perhaps something, trying to open the door. A surge of panic filled my head as the only way to run was to pass the door and walk down the stairs. Damn it! I'm stuck. What if that thing opens the door before I'm able to escape? Or what if I ended up on the same floor again?


The banging suddenly stopped. Everything turned quiet for a while. Not long after that, the doorknob turned slowly. Fuck! “No, no, no, no. Whatever is behind that door, I don’t wanna know. I should run”. So I ran down the stairs as fast as I could. I don’t care anymore who will escape first, that thing or me. I also don't care if I'd end up running to the same floor. What I care about right now is to run as fast as I can and as far as possible.