Before school
It was early morning when I woke up, my lips dry, the dryness spread like a dessert inside my throat, as if my mouth was open all night, as if I was screaming silently all night. The sun wasn't out yet but it was light outside, with summer cicadas still crackling in the cold morning breeze. I tried to collect my dreams, my terrors of nightmares, only some of it came back in pieces, the webs, the stomach ache, the broken clock.
But you know the scary part wasn't the nightmare itself but the pieces of it that stayed with me till morning, I glanced at the clock, it was still broken past three, so it was all true but I was dressed and what about the tournament, what happened to it. every inch of my muscle was stretching in pain even after consuming a strip of muscle relaxants.
Then I noticed, my bottle water was still filled till brim, I drank nothing yesterday maybe part of it was true, maybe I saw the broken clock at night when I woke up and it became part of my nightmares, maybe my imagination was running high, wild because I was fully clothed. Maybe I just need to relax and clear my head because it was that last day of school, I was excited and scared both at the same time, I don't know if you have ever felt that way but I was feeling it right now but who knew I was right to be scared for what was about to happen.
At this moment I don't know, the line between realty and dreams have been blurred for me, the fine line isn't fine anymore, it isn't there any more for me. My dreams are as real as the reality for me.
I checked my phone for the correct time it was past 4.30, school doesn't state till eight. I was early, quit early, so I decided to go for a run to clear my mind.
As soon as I got out of my home the skies became dark again, night disappearing as if the rising sun was now retreating, as if everything was in reverse, as if I was still asleep in the nightmare but it was just the darkness in my eyes now. I felt thin, weak, mentally exhausted, not in a state to run. But I still decided against it, I wanted to get out of the house breath some fresh air before the start of the last day of school.
At that moment I didn't knew this was gonna be the worst decision of my life considering the past events I should have stayed in my home or at least shouldn't be alone because as soon as I left home, I collapsed with darkness filling my eyes.
Why was this happening, I don't remember much of it I thought this was another nightmare but this time it was real, I woke up again on the road with the sound of horns. I wasn't where I passed out, near my home, I was quite far from it on the way to school, like quarte of it, sitting on the side of the road with my head resting on light pole.
When I woke up, I felt fine, I can see the sun in the sky, like a tree with a strong bark. I ran back towards home to dress up for school, I didn't want to be late.
On the way I was trying to piece up what was happening from the last night, all the nightmares and the badminton tournament. I felt like I was haunted by something or someone.
When I reached home mom and dad were awake, dad looking different when he saw me, looking proud. It hasn't happened in a long time and I was feeling weird with him now. I directly went to my room to take a bath and fresh up. This day is weird, strange in a bad way.
I set my hair one last time in mirror, it was looking just perfect for photos and I intended to keep it that way, for the whole day.
I went down for breakfast; mom had left for work and dad was waiting for me to come down. Sometimes he insists on dropping me school on special occasions like today but not to worry as it was gonna be the last time, he got to do that.
He doesn't know I won't come home after school, not because I will be out with friends but because… it doesn't matter you should know the whole story before knowing the bitter ending filled with terror.
The drive to school was filled with chats of my badminton practice, the college which will best suit my needs or whether I plan to pursue my masters. Why was he interested in my life after so long, felt good to be honest I was enjoying this small chat we both were having.
Then suddenly he went. It was good that you at least won the state championships which sent me down a series of horrors, as if someone pushed me through a circular staircase because I never reached the state championships, because I was knocked out in semifinals itself.
All of it was true, I realized the line between dreams, those dreams filled with horrors has actually blurred out.
He dropped me to the school's main gate and went off. Today I was before time because I got ready early but my stomach was empty. I decided it would be best to go to the school canteen before heading to the classroom as I was sure everyone would be early today.
I bought a cream bun and ate it on the way to the class, more like swallowing it in two uneven halves.
If I knew this was gonna be my only meal of the day, I would have savored it a bit more and let its taste stay in my mouth longer because the rest of the day all I was gonna taste was vomit.