Chapter 11
T here’s this dream I have every so many years. The one so vivid you can’t quite tell if it’s real or if you are in fact dreaming. ??I am trapped in a small space. Every time I have this dream the spot is different but this time I am stuck in a wooden box. My legs are folded up, my knees pressing into my chest. My back is up against this hard surface. Arms struggling to find the space to move around. I try to scream but nothing comes out. I can hear everything around me but nobody, not even myself, can hear a word or sound I make.
I notice a swaying feeling while I’m inside. The box is moving. I peak through one of the small holes I find and notice men on each side carrying me to the edge of a ship. I’ve never seen this ship before, every aspect of it is brand new. The men stop at the edge and suddenly I feel the pressure of the men swinging this box. My body hits the front, my face squished up against it as the rough wood digs into my cheek. My hands pressed up against the box as if I’m catching myself from falling on the ground. The moment the men let go and the box is speeding down towards the water I feel myself falling. The wind rushing through the holes, my stomach twists as a rush of adrenaline rushes to my heart. They have thrown me overboard and I’m falling uncontrollably into the water where I will slowly drown. I am trying to wiggle my limbs, move anything, do anything but I can’t. Right as I am about to hit the water I wake up.
I jolt my body forward into a sitting position and grasp at my throat. My chest grabbing a hold of every bit of air I can breathe in and forcing it out. A whooping sound loudly fills my ears while I’m gasping for air. Sweat drips from my head down to my chest and my eyes start to adjust to the darkness of the room.
Ace wakes up in a panic, “Abby! Abby, are you okay?!” He asks, his voice fully alarmed.
My breaths are slower and more drawn out as I calm myself and completely come to reality. It was just a dream Abby, it was just a dream. I tell myself, still unable to speak to confirm my nightmare to Ace. I can only focus on myself.
Once my awareness is fully intact, I look over at Ace. “I-I’m okay.”
“The same nightmare? The one where you are trapped in a box?” Ace asks in a gentle yet concerned tone.
“Yeah, that one again.” These nightmares have been reoccurring since I was a child. Ace is the only one I’ve ever told about them. He’s spent many nights calming me down from the utter disaster I become after waking up. I think it may be the one thing that scares me the most. Being trapped and having no control of my fate. That complete weakness, helplessness, I just can’t fathom it. ??I lay back down and turn to face the open room. Reminding my mind that I am not confined to a small space. Ace starts playing with my hair, his fingers twisting and twirling through the strands. He might as well be singing a lullaby, I pass right back into slumber.