It’s What’s Inside That Counts

I wake up again
same time every night
Same damn dream.
I am running through the shadows
and no matter how dark it is
they can still see me
still chase me down
Then there is the door
Out of nowhere and bright as the sun
I think if I can just make it to the door
everything will be all right
And I run faster
but the darkness begins to collapse
and constrict
against me
Feels like paint
midnight acrylic… or jello
Either way
its slowing me down
and I know if they catch me, I’m going to die
But I am almost at the door
and I can see it much clearer now
beautiful
luminous
in this tranquil blue glow
I can feel my heart pounding
I can actually hear the blood
pumping through my veins
An echoing reminder of the pain
Out in the distance there is a howling
like a bunch of street dogs
or a pack of hungry wolves
I turn around to see where it is coming from and I trip
The ground is warm, moist, slimy like algae
I look down to see what it is
and why its so warm
I scream at the realization that its blood red
moving, pulsing
with each breath I take
Its not just soaked in blood
the ground is made out of flesh
I’m lost inside something that is alive
If I can just make it to that door
I know everything will be fine
Almost there
I can feel the glow around me now
but instead of the expected feeling of safeness
I feel hands, tiny little hands
pulling me back away from the light
Then their teeth as they clutch into my flesh
unforgiving and relentless
The howling stops
I scream.
Waking up, realizing that its all over.
And like every night before
I awaken, feeling tiny footsteps running around inside of me.