Page 6 of Shattered Echoes

Oh no! I want to vomit.

My world spins with terror and revulsion as he forces my legs apart, ready to thrust into me and violate me once more.

Oh, God!

My eyes snap open. The remnants of the nightmare still weigh on my chest; I can't move. Gasping for air, I bolt up, my heart hammering against my ribcage as panic tightens its grip around my throat.

Fuck! Another nightmare.

Goosebumps erupt across my skin and sweat beads on my brow as I struggle to shake off the terror that had enveloped me.

"It's not real, it’s not real, it’s not…" I say to myself, my voice barely audible over the pounding of my heart.

I am far away from him. That can’t happen to me again.

Frantically, I look around the room, searching for any sign of the danger that haunts my dreams. But there's nothing. Just the familiar sight of the bedroom I grew up in, bathed in the soft glow of moonlight filtering through the curtains.

"It's just a nightmare, nothing real," I repeat. "He's gone. It's over." But the words feel hollow with empty promises in the face of my lingering fear, their echoes bouncing off the walls of my childhood bedroom.

How long will he haunt me?

I draw a shaky breath, willing myself to calm down.

I'm safe now. I'm home.

With trembling hands, I reach out and clutch the sheets beneath me, seeking solace in their familiar embrace. The soft cotton ground me, anchoring me to reality as I wait for the storm inside to pass.

Yes, I’m home. I’m here, and I’m safe.

Shadow's Bend, with its quiet streets and quaint homes, holds a special place in my heart. It's a town where time seems to move at its own pace, where the days stretch out like lazy rivers, meandering through the landscape of memories and dreams.

My childhood bedroom, with its faded wallpaper and well-worn furniture, is a sanctuary of sorts, a place where I can retreat from the chaos of the world and find a moment of peace. I can still remember the sound of laughter echoing through the halls, the smell of freshly baked cookies wafting from the kitchen, and the warmth of my mother's embrace as she tucked me into bed at night. But now, the memories are bittersweet. The echoes of my past linger in every corner, a reminder of all that I've lost and all that I've left behind.

And yet, despite the ghosts that haunt these halls, there's a sense of peace here, a feeling of belonging that I've never been able to find anywhere else. It's a place where I can be myself, where I can confront my inner demons and hopefully come out stronger on the other side.

Shadow's Bend may not be perfect, but it's home. And right now, that's all I need.

Slowly, I force myself to calm down, counting the beats of my heart as I wait for the panic to subside. It's a familiar ritual; one I've performed countless times since returning home two months ago.

My heart rate steadies, the panic receding like the tide.

Therapy has been helping, I remind myself, though the nightmares persist, stubborn in their refusal to release their grip on my mind. I take another deep breath, savoring the cool air filling my lungs.

I definitely can’t go back to sleep right now.

With a shaky sigh, I finally muster the strength to get off the bed. The floorboards creak beneath my weight as I make my way to the bathroom. My gaze sweeps across the room, taking in the comforting familiarity of my surroundings–the faded posters on the walls and the well-worn carpet beneath my feet.

"Just a dream," I tell myself; the words are a feeble attempt to dispel the lingering sense of unease.

With determined steps, I open the bathroom door and step in, the cool tile soothing beneath my bare feet. I splash water on my face, the cool liquid a balm against my fevered skin, and each drop washes away a fragment of the nightmare, leaving behind a sense of clarity in its wake. I stare at my reflection in the mirror.

"You're okay," I whisper to my reflection."You've come so far. You can't let this setback hold you back."

I just wish I believed these words.

My reflection in the mirror is a reminder that I am stronger than this, with the battles I’ve fought and the demons I’ve defeated.

Will the nightmares ever end? Or am I doomed to suffer for the rest of my days? I wonder.

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