Lost in a dream

I'm surrounded by darkness. I'm searching for something familiar, but all I see is black. Then there's a glimpse of hope. Light. I'm gravitating towards it slowly and with hesitation. Then I hear a voice. It's a voice I recognize. The light is gone. I turn to see the face that matches the sound. It's my friend. I feel safe for a brief moment. I see her and only her. Her surrounded by the black darkness. She tells me it's okay and that I'm going to be fine, while holding my hand and tilting her head slightly. With no warning I feel lost again. Her voice is no longer soothing. Her face is no longer familiar. I am in a panic.

I manage to travel from the stairs to the kitchen without any recollection of doing so. I feel like I am in a dream world and can't get out. There are now other people around. I recognize their faces, but I feel threatened. They are trying to get my attention. I don't acknowledge them in fear that they want to keep me in this dream world instead of let me back into my reality. My heart is racing and the only breath that comes out of my mouth is "Chris! I want Chris! I need him here with me, now!" I stand in the kitchen, not allowing anyone to come near me. Some of them are walking around holding their phones, doing what looks like playing a game with random shapes and colors. All of them playing the same game. As they walk by me they stop looking at their phone and turn their head towards me, giving me a confused and worried look. I yell at them and demand they keep their distance. I refuse to look into their eyes. It's a trick. They don't want me to leave this place. I continue calling out for Chris. He is not around.

I am stepping side to side to keep my mind alive. As long as I keep moving I still have a chance. I can still get back to reality. Time passes in what seems like hours. I look down at my hand. I am holding my phone. It shows on the screen "Call My Love or Cancel" I muster up enough brain power to press the call button. All I hear is ringing. I start to lose hope, my heart is racing. Then he answers. Chris is on the other line. I immediately break down. I try to explain to him what is happening. I say through the tears,"Babe, I don't know what they have done to me! Please, please come and get me!" He assures me he is coming, but he has to wait for his friend to come to pick him up. I look at the clock....10:13 pm.

I keep him on the phone. He is my only chance. He is the only way I will get out of this horrible nightmare. Anytime I hear any silence on the other line I start screaming his name. He yells back, "Ash, I am coming! I promise I am coming!" I ask him where he is and he says he still hasn't come to get him. I start to panic. Is he part of the dream too? No. You can't think that. He is coming. I tell myself this over and over.

After what seems like an hour he tells me his friend is there and he's on his way. I look at the clock....10:22 pm. How can that be right?? The clock must be broken. I feel like I have been here for hours! It's okay, Chris is coming. I stay on the phone with him. I look into the living room where the familiar faces are laughing and playing their games. My friend stops, mid conversation, looks over at me with a smile on her face, and says, "Honey, you are fine. Everything is going to be just fine. Maybe you should let me talk to Chris." I immediately reject the proposal. Another one of them tells me that I should get off the phone and sleep a little. I look the other way and disregard the comment. They just want my life line. They don't want me talking to Chris.

 Stay focused. Chris will be here soon. I ask him again, "Where are you? Why are you not here yet? I have been waiting for so long! Please tell me you're not fake too!" He tries to call me down, "Babe, I am really coming, I promise. It has only been like 30 seconds since you last asked me. Just stay on the phone with me." I see lights through the curtains in the living room. That has to be him. I say through the phone, "You're here, aren't you? I see your lights!" He says in confusion, "No, it's not me. I am barely getting on the freeway." I feel a flush of despair overtake me. He's real, he's real, he's coming to save me. And then I repeat.

I am starting to get very sleepy, but I know I have to stay awake and keep Chris on the phone. I continue stepping side to side. I ask him again where he is. He says he is just getting off the freeway. Why is he taking so long! I look at the clock. 10:35 pm. Still, the time makes no sense.

 How I am going to get out of here without them trying to stop me? I will have to run. I scope out my route. I can do it. Now! Run! I run through the kitchen and past the faces. I nearly trip down the stairs. I'm outside.

 I run out to the street so I can the car coming. I see lights. I scream with excitement, "You're here! You came! I knew you'd save me!" He yells back, "Babe, no, that's not me! I am just pulling into the neighborhood! Stay there." A second set of lights show. This time it has to be him. The car starts to slow as it glides closer to me. It stops. The passenger door opens. It's Chris. I jump into his arms. I am saved. He saved me. I am safe. Breathe.