It was late—so late that the sky seemed to swallow the world whole. The darkness was thick, heavy, endless. But I couldn't stop running. My mind pounded in rhythm with my heart, each thud screaming a single thought:
I have to survive this. I can't let him get to me.
The thought kept me alive. It pushed my trembling legs forward even when every breath burned. I ran through empty streets, past flickering streetlights and silent houses, my bare feet slapping the pavement. I didn't care where I was going—only that it was away.
After what felt like forever, maybe thirty minutes, I finally stopped in front of Lily Whales' house. My chest heaved violently as I tried to catch my breath.
Lily—my deskmate, my best friend, the only person who ever made this new life bearable. We'd been close from the very first day I stepped into school.
I rushed to the door and knocked hard, my hands trembling so badly I almost missed the handle. My heart wouldn't calm down; I still felt as though someone was following me, hiding in the shadows.
After a few moments, the door creaked open, and there stood Mrs. Lisa Whales—Lily's mother. The porch light hit her face, and for the first time that night, I felt something close to safety.
"Good evening, Mrs. Whales," I managed to say, forcing the words out through shaky breaths. "How are you? I hope I'm not disturbing—"
But who was I kidding? The look in her eyes told me she already knew something was wrong.
"Vivian," she said, stepping closer, concern flooding her face. "What's wrong with you? Why are you breathing so heavily? And—good heavens, child—you're in nothing but a tank top and shorts! Come inside, quick!"
She ushered me in before I could even answer, her voice both firm and gentle, wrapping around me like a blanket.
As I stepped into the warm glow of their living room, the world I had just escaped from still clung to me like smoke. My legs trembled beneath me, my throat burned, and before I could stop myself—
I broke down.
Tears I hadn't realized I'd been holding back spilled freely, my chest shaking as I tried to speak but couldn't.
Mrs. Whales caught me before I fell completely, pulling me into a hug. "It's okay, sweetheart. You're safe now," she whispered.
But deep inside, I knew safety was only an illusion. Because some nightmares don't end just because you've escaped the house—they live on in your memory, waiting for you to close your eyes.