I can't seem to remember how I got here; all I know is that I'm running away, in a desperate attempt to escape. My feet heavily pound against the pavement, never quite seeming to move fast enough, and my heart is pulsating throughout my muscles sending a sharp ringing in my ears. As I'm running my eyes are scanning the scenery around me and have yet to find familiarity anywhere. The old abandoned buildings, with ragged blocks of wood nailed across the windows and ineligible graffiti painted on the sides' barley stand tall, seemingly untouched for years. I take a quick peek behind me and see a moving shadow coming nearer, and break into a sprint. The cool wind brushing up against my face reminds me of the cold sweat that has formed on my forehead, and I wipe it away as if it would make a difference. I am desperate to find a place to hide, and blindly take cover in a random alley. It is dark and cold, with unknown shadows lurking behind every corner. I don't know if I am safe or not, all I know is that I am away from the creeping shadow; and then it happens. In a sudden jerk I am lifted off of the ground and instantaneously thrown back down. As an attempt of survival I scream for help, but something subconsciously tells me that I will not be heard, so I attempt go for a different strategy. But, before this could be done, sirens are sounding. The extensive flow of ringing fills my ears and drowns me into a blur. The ringing gets louder and louder until suddenly everything fades out to white and my eyes burst open.

I instantly recognize the familiar tune to my alarm, and groggily roll over in my bed to shut it off. I lay there, waiting for my eyes to adjust to the light creeping through the cracks in my blinds, and take in reality. My bed looks almost as if a dog has ran through it. The sheets are all in the corner balled up in a circle, while my comforter is on the floor along with my pillow. I come to see that I was accompanied by yet another nightmare last night. But, instead of analyzing it, I continue on with my morning attempting to avoid being late to school. I sit up straight on my bed, and touch my bare feet to the floor. It's cold and unwelcoming just as it is every winter morning. I stand up, letting my joints crack simultaneously and slowly walk to my bathroom. With eyes half open I throw my hand against the wall, hoping to hit the light switch, and I do. I don't even want to look in a mirror this morning. After that nightmare, I'm sure to look nothing above reasonable. But I do, and I see my self just as expected. I have huge dark purple circles outlining my groggy, red eyes, and hair that just doesn't seem manageable. Instead of contemplating how to fix it, I turn on the facet, cup my hands under the flow of the water, and splash it against my face as I do every morning. Once the beginning of the routine starts, I'm lost in my thoughts, and escape into my day almost as if the nightmares don't even exist.