years

rthday Se

ten gold eyes exploded behind my lids, forming a river of crushed crimson metal and twisted flesh. I tried to pull air into

na be late for your last

the speaker was so far away. The sirens were

sisted in

ase!" as curling smoke put a hand around my t

raph

d my dreams. A gasp for air ripped through my chest, making me scramble to my feet and look around my bedroom wil

king twice as I tried to locate the source

raph

mouthful of smokeless air and exhaled deeply in relief as my eyes acclimatized t

too quickly, and managed to sa

her eyes never wavering. Upon arriving at the foot of m

he same ni

e nail was a narrow strip encircled by tearing skin after they were bitten to a stub. I chewed on my pinky in

ven't been to therapy since last year and she did tell you to

number of flower pots, being coaxed to recall my recurrent nightmares. Thick curls slapp

zation in her field was unsettling. She was way too perceptive for my comfort and knew just what questions would make me lo

s able to temporarily calm my dreams. However, as my guilt grew, so did the nig

get my dreams, no

and dismissively waving a hand. "I mean, don't waste her time. This dr

d in the atmosphere, weighing down and co

like you haven't sl

y smile and lift

calling me

ly. Her eyes were filled with a depressing despair that was n

urse not but you shoul

my ninth birthday behind me

ulling myself out of my cozy bed whi

eeking for my wayfarer brown-rimmed spectacles. Even though it was my birthday, I didn't

I'm going to visit your father after

y glasses. "I'll pass Mom. You know, with it being the first day of my senior year and all that stuf

under her tousled bangs, curved upwa

you to miss your first period. And you already have your timetable print

this particular day, of all days. Mom looked at my sad face for a moment, then

, is going to be hard. Hopefully, school

y her to use the restroom. Birthdays were meant to be joyous occasions, but