Hey guys! This is a story I wrote 2 years ago in my creative writing class and I wanted to share it with y'all! Let me know what you think and if you want me to post more of my stories.
Only a Dream
After a long and exhausting walk to my house, I throw my bag onto my bed and head into the bathroom. I don’t look into the mirror because I know what I’ll see. Myself, but only worse. I cover up the mirror with the towel and undress myself. Looking at the shower, I shudder. Every time I step in there, I have the same feeling. The feeling of dying.
Only a Dream
I step into the shower and start washing my hair. When I close my eyes, I get flashes of the water dripping on my skin, the water pouring down from the shower head. Flashes of me hitting the floor make me open my eyes again. After I wash myself, I step out of the shower and dry myself. I walk into my room and get dressed then get into my bed, pulling out my journal and music. The song The River by Bruce Springsteen comes on as I start writing.
Dear journal,
Another day has gone by without my mom around. It’s been 3 years from today since she’s passed and I still miss her like crazy. Her drowning was what started my fear. I can’t go a day without thinking of her falling deeper and deeper into the lake. Her soundless screams that fill the water, me running towards her then diving into the lake to try to save her. But it was too late, she was already gone.
I don’t think this feeling will ever go away. For as long as I remember my mom, the fear will stay with me.
I close my journal and set it down in an already opened drawer. I quickly take my medicine and get comfortable. I take my top pillow and put it between my arms and hug it. I feel my eyes drooping down, making everything go black.
The Dream
I’m at the lake, again. I look down and see the sand covering my tanned legs. Swiping the sand off, I stand up and look around. Everyone is having fun and playing around in the water and on land.
“Come on! Let’s go swim baby!” My mom screams to me as she runs towards the water.
“I’ll just stay here and tan some more, but I’ll watch you!” I yell back. I see her nod in the distance. She swims underneath the water, her legs in the air. Obviously doing a trick. I watch her descend her legs into the water and then stick her hands in above the water and shake them. Ha-ha. I love when she does her tricks. Her hands shake once again before they descend slowly into the water. I wait awhile, waiting for her to come back up to do another trick. Then I see the bubbles.
“Oh my gosh! She’s drowning! My mom is drowning!” I scream out, panicking. People look at me crazy, like I’m making it up. I run as fast I can to the water and dive in. Opening my eyes in the water hurts, but I need to do it to save my mom. So I open my eyes and see her motionless body.
I grab her by the wrist and pull her up and out of the water. I set her down on the sand and check if she’s breathing. She’s not. My whole life stops in front of me, my mom just died in front of me. And I couldn’t save her… I lay my head on her chest and cry. I can’t even remember how long I was crying before someone picked me up from under my legs and carried me. I remember looking up and seeing it was my dad. His eyes were drooping down from sadness and he had a frown on his face.
“I couldn’t save her, dad… I couldn’t save her…” I tell him, whimpering.
“It’s ok sweetheart…” My dad says in sincerity. I lay my head back on his shoulder and cry more.
Back In Real Life
“Klaire, wake up! It’s just a dream, Klaire! Wake up!” My dad yells at me, shoving and pulling me awake. I hug him and cry.
“It’s ok, Klaire. Go take a shower, you made a mess of yourself. Breakfast is downstairs when you’re ready,” My dad whispers to me, not wanting to startle me. I nod and he walks downstairs.
I undress myself and step into the shower. The water washing off all the tears on me. I wash my hair and clean my body and step out. Crap, I forgot to cover the mirror with a towel.
“Well, hello finally Klaire,” Someone talks to me.
“Who was that?” I turn around quickly.
“The person who you’ve been keeping away,” It says to me again. I look at the mirror and scream. It’s me, but worse.
“Yea, yea. I know, I’m pretty ugly huh? Well you created me, with that fear of yours,” It says to me. The person in the mirror looks like me, but with really wet hair, and blue skin. I walk slowly, and start running.
“Oh no you don’t,” It yells at me. I feel water running down my throat, then stopping. Only enough water to drown me. I try to swallow it, but it won’t budge. I’m screaming, screaming for someone to hear me, but no one replies except for the laughter coming from my fears’ mouth. I start crying, afraid of dying. Afraid of ending up like my mom. I feel a cloth wrap around me and someone grabbing me. I open my eyes and start coughing really hard, water streaming down my chin from my throat.
“Klaire, what happened?” My dad questions me harshly.
“I… I don’t know…” I answer him still coughing. I glance at the mirror and see me, but with the really wet hair and blue skin. It smirks at me before disappearing in the mirror. I look away and cough up the remaining water then start crying again.
“Dad… she did this to me…”