I wake up in a sweat, my heart pounding like I just ran a whole mile. The dream is still foggy in my mind, like a mist that refuses to lift. I saw a forest, darker and older than the ones around our town. The trees whispered secrets I didn’t understand. I shiver and sit up, trying to shake the feeling that something is watching me.
Morning sunlight peeks through my curtains. I throw them open, welcoming the light. “Another weird dream,” I mutter to myself, trying to laugh off the chill it leaves behind. Lately, strange dreams have been haunting my nights like shadows that won’t leave me alone.
I get dressed quickly, pulling on my favorite jeans and a comfy sweater. As I look in the mirror, something seems different, but I can’t quite put my finger on it. Maybe it’s just the dreams messing with my head. I brush my hair and decide to leave it loose.
Downstairs, the smell of dad’s coffee fills the kitchen. “Good morning, sleepyhead,” he greets me with a warm smile. “You look like you wrestled with an alligator in your sleep.”
“More like a forest,” I joke, but his expression makes me think he takes my words seriously. I grab a toast and head for the door. “I’m off! I’ll be late if I don’t hurry.”
The fresh air helps clear my head a little as I walk to school. Everything looks normal—the same houses, the same kids on bikes. Yet, something is different. It’s like I can sense things I couldn’t before. I hear the soft rustle of leaves from across the street and smell the sharp scent of someone’s fresh laundry, details that usually blur into daily life.
As I pass the bakery, I spot him again—the mysterious figure at the corner. I’ve seen him a few times lately, always watching, always near. He stands tall, with an air of calm strength about him. My heart skips a beat, a strange pull I can’t ignore. When our eyes meet for a brief moment, it feels like the world shifts slightly. His gaze is intense, knowing—a conversation without words.
I blink, and just like that, he’s gone. What’s his deal? I shake my head and continue walking, trying to ignore how my skin tingles where the sun warms it.
At school, I try focusing on my classes, but my mind keeps drifting. My friend Beth chatters about the upcoming festival, but her words feel distant. I nod along, pretending to listen, but can’t shake the feeling that something big is about to change in my life.
As the day drags on, I find myself wishing it could all just go back to how it was before the dreams—before that strange sense of something more lurking at the edges of my normal world.
On my way home, I take the long route through the park, hoping the quiet will help clear my mind. But the trees seem to lean closer, their whispers brushing my ears again. I hurry my steps, feeling like I’m being drawn somewhere I can’t see.
When I get home, I help dad with dinner. Chopping vegetables is calming, routine. "You seem quiet today," he says, glancing at me as he stirs the pot.
"Just tired," I reply, hoping my voice sounds normal. "Weird dreams again."
He nods, but there’s a look in his eyes—concern mixed with something else. "Dreams are nothing but stories our minds spin. Don't let them bother you too much."
I try to take it to heart, but it’s hard not to feel like the dreams are more than just that.
Later, as I lie in bed, I find myself thinking about the forest and the mysterious boy. Who is he? Why do I keep running into him? I close my eyes and try to calm the questions swirling in my head. Sleep comes slowly, pulling me back toward the shadows of the forest, whispering secrets I know I’ll someday understand.
