Nightmare

“ Please don't do this” I cried out clamping my hands around the hand on my skirt to pull it out

He let out a guttural sound and threw his head back, two fangs sprouting out of his mouth. My eyes grew in their socket. My mouth opened and the only sound I heard was the reverberation of my voice through the dark cave

I let out a piercing scream and jumped up from the bed I was lying on and held my neck. I was sweating profusely and was panting frightfully. I looked about the place in terror fear creeping up my nerves like every other day.

I heard footsteps padding across the hall before my door was yanked open to let in my mother who exhaled when she saw I was alright.

“Oh sweetie, the nightmare isn't it?” her face contorted in worry. I ran into her arms the minute she sat on the bed and held strong to her chest

“Am so scared mummy” I squealed unto her bosom. She patted my back gently and kissed my head “it's okay love. Maybe you can come sleep with us” I shook my head vigorously at that suggestion. There was no way I was going to sleep with my parents at 20. What would the kids at school say if they get any word about it?

“Mum am fine. It was just a nightmare. Though I don't know why I keep having it over and over again but it's nothing” I reassured her before pulling away.

“Are you sure you are going to be okay?” I nodded and slid back into the qilty pink covers

“Go back to bed mum” she smiled and leaned forward to kiss my head before she turned off the light and left.

I couldn't sleep anymore so I just laid there thinking about these awful dreams I've been having since I clocked 15. I keep seeing myself in strange places with strange people who looked horrifying if you ask me. I mean, I don't believe in the paranormal which is why I hate watching any movie that has to do with Werewolfs or vampires.

My younger brother was a fan of them and would refuse to watch any other thing but the sickly things.

My name is Kimberly Johnson and I am officially turning 20 by this weekend. My best friend Cassandra threatened she was going to do something nasty on that day to commemorate it which had me scared since she said it, knowing the kind of person she is__very wild and untamed

I am the first child of the Johnson’s with a raucous junior brother who turned 17 in April. Dad said he took after him and is even a bit calm than he was at his age. Whenever he rehearses the story, I would tumble with laughter at all the mischief he had committed as a teenager.

My family was the dopest and coolest ever. No one overexerts authority over the other. My Dad is a 21st-century liberalist who believes we can do whatever we wanted as far as we never overstepped our boundaries while my mum, is the exact opposite of a mum. I mean which mum dresses up on a Friday night and tags her daughter along for clubbing? The answer is none.

Most of my friends were jealous of me because I have a cool mom and dad who doesn't give many freaks

about my lifestyle but the irony of it all was that while my parents gave me the whole leeway to do as I wanted, I am a very reserved person. I loved my privacy and my novels.

Once it clocks 5:30, I run into the study of my dad to hide until I hear my mum drive off the lot. I would exhale and jump out of my hideout and run back to my room. Dad knew my techniques and would often smile when he sees me but wouldn't say anything.

By next week, I would be returning to college in New York University where I schooled so I'm trying to catch up with old friends at home to bid them farewell. It's been a wonderful and dreary holiday without my bestie who lived in the faraway south with her parents. She was supposed to visit but something came up that changed her schedule.

I was still rummaging through my thoughts when I drifted off.

“Wake your ass up that bed Kimberly and come down this minute!” I heard mum screech at the top of her voice. I stretched my hands and wiped off invisible drool from the corner of my mouth. I hated being raised this way especially after struggling to sleep in the night but I can't do anything but go down to my mum or suffer her earful wrath.

“Kimberly!”

“Mum, almost there!” I screeched back.

I grudgingly stood up from the bed and headed to the restroom to brush up and wash my face. If there was one thing I detested, it was meeting my morning face and breathe.

It sucked.

After tending to my face, I rushed down the stairs greeting my dad in the living room before meeting my mum in the kitchen as she stirred the scrambled egg in the skillet. The aroma of the delicacy wafted through my nostrils causing my stomach to rumble in hunger.

“Morning Mum” I greeted her as I entered. She turned to the side to peer at me with a smile hence she returned to stirring the eggs. “I thought you were going to sleep in till the end of today.

Have you forgotten we are going to visit your aunt in Louisiana today?”

“Oh, I forgot” I mouthed and picked up the plates to set on the table that she would use to dish out the foods.

“You don't sound happy about that. I thought you would be excited”

“I am mum. Just that I had forgotten” I stated in honesty “I had thought it would be tomorrow” I opened the fridge and pulled out the gallon of milk as William trudged into the kitchen his eyes glued into his phone.