Alaina

On this night, I was standing in front of the mirror on the damp tiled floor. I think I had gone to the bathroom half asleep and came to consciousness while washing my hands. Though the taps were turned off and my hands weren't wet, I was staring at my reflection or at least where my reflection should have been. Lillies are tough. Lillies are tough.

On this night, I was standing in front of the mirror on the damp tiled floor. I think I had gone to the bathroom half asleep and came to consciousness while washing my hands. Though the taps were turned off and my hands weren't wet, I was staring at my reflection or at least where my reflection should have been. Lillies are tough. Lillies are tough.

I could even see the light in the hallway streaming in through the open door. But do you know what I couldn't see? Me. I was standing in the bathroom looking at a mirror that takes up the entire wall and my body was absent from its surface. How fucked is that? I can't even picture that.

I could even see the light in the hallway streaming in through the open door. But do you know what I couldn't see? Me. I was standing in the bathroom looking at a mirror that takes up the entire wall and my body was absent from its surface. How fucked is that? I can't even picture that.

I looked over my shoulder to check that everything in the mirror was present in real life. That is when the dread set in. Cold fear tore its way through my core. Its icy tendrils clawing at my very being. You're an aspiring writer. Write the book.

I looked over my shoulder to check that everything in the mirror was present in real life. That is when the dread set in. Cold fear tore its way through my core. Its icy tendrils clawing at my very being. You're an aspiring writer. Write the book.

All at once I was aware of the presence behind me. Something was staring at me behind my back, watching me through the mirror. Sweat began to glisten my skin. My stomach flipped and I was frozen. Everything in me was screaming, don't turn around, don't turn around, don't turn around. And do you know what my dumb ass did? Turned around.

All at once I was aware of the presence behind me. Something was staring at me behind my back, watching me through the mirror. Sweat began to glisten my skin. My stomach flipped and I was frozen. Everything in me was screaming, don't turn around, don't turn around, don't turn around. And do you know what my dumb ass did? Turned around.

and suddenly I found I was back in my bed drenched in cold sweat breathing heavily my partner soundly asleep beside me in a shadow with two long arms that ended in talons standing in the corner of our room I hate that I went to move but found my body bound by sleep paralysis oh god I don't know if you've ever experienced sleep paralysis, but it is one of the most awful experiences.

and suddenly I found I was back in my bed drenched in cold sweat breathing heavily my partner soundly asleep beside me in a shadow with two long arms that ended in talons standing in the corner of our room I hate that I went to move but found my body bound by sleep paralysis oh god I don't know if you've ever experienced sleep paralysis, but it is one of the most awful experiences.

I experienced it recently after a long bout of not experiencing it.

I experienced it recently after a long bout of not experiencing it.

And it was when I heard the kids screaming. Oh, yeah. I forgot you said that. It, like, fucked me up. For, like, two nights I couldn't sleep after that because what happened was I found – I woke up to hearing all three of my children in their room screaming my name. But not actually. No.

And it was when I heard the kids screaming. Oh, yeah. I forgot you said that. It, like, fucked me up. For, like, two nights I couldn't sleep after that because what happened was I found – I woke up to hearing all three of my children in their room screaming my name. But not actually. No.

And it wasn't real, but I was looking at my room, I was hearing their voices, I could see in the hallway, and I went to get up and I couldn't get up. And then I went to yell to John to get up and go get them, but I couldn't yell. And I was just laying in my bed, paralyzed, unable to scream, hearing my children screaming for me.

And it wasn't real, but I was looking at my room, I was hearing their voices, I could see in the hallway, and I went to get up and I couldn't get up. And then I went to yell to John to get up and go get them, but I couldn't yell. And I was just laying in my bed, paralyzed, unable to scream, hearing my children screaming for me.

And finally, I was able to do the thing where I was able to pinch the side of my leg and move my fingers. And I sat up and I was like, so I couldn't hear them anymore, but I darted into their room. All three of them are fast asleep. Completely asleep. Fast asleep. Everything was fine. John was asleep. And like everything was normal. I could not go back to sleep that night.

And finally, I was able to do the thing where I was able to pinch the side of my leg and move my fingers. And I sat up and I was like, so I couldn't hear them anymore, but I darted into their room. All three of them are fast asleep. Completely asleep. Fast asleep. Everything was fine. John was asleep. And like everything was normal. I could not go back to sleep that night.

I sat up like feeling sick.

I sat up like feeling sick.