I awoke in the middle of the night. I didn't stop to think about the fact that I wasn't tired because I was so scared. Heat surrounded my body, but there was no fire. The floor rolled like liquid as I stumbled to the front door.
I was standing behind my father. I couldn't turn away from him. I couldn't see if my mother or sister had made it out and I couldn't see if our pets had either. I just stared at him. I stared because no words could leave my lips. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't say anything to him. I wanted to know what had happened and if everyone was okay, but I couldn't… I felt the ground move beneath my feet and before I could do anything, our house exploded in a blaze of fire and lava. I felt tears slip down my cheeks, but when I went to wipe them away, I felt nothing. I closed my eyes and a choked sob escaped me.
When my eyes opened again, the burning house was nowhere in sight. I was in school and my friends were in a circle around me. Chills rolled up my back and I tried to ask what was happening, but I remembered that I was unable to speak. They all seemed to pretend that I wasn't there as they talked and laughed with each other.
Without warning, I felt myself sitting down in class. My surroundings were blurry and I could only pick out a few faces of my friends in the classroom. I was finally coming to a realization, but before I could convince myself of it… A gunshot rang out.
I didn't remember moving, nor anyone else for that matter, but the next thing I knew, my back was pressed against the wall in the cubby corner of the classroom. I felt more tears rolling down my eyes, but again, I felt nothing on my face. I heard screams getting closer and closer. I hugged one of my friends and I could feel them shaking. Their skin wasn't warm, but cold as ice, and I knew what was about to happen.
I could hear the way the door opened hard enough to leave a dent in the wall. Boots pounded on the ground, an evil laugh echoed in my brain. I couldn't tell anything about them though… I heard a gunshot and the other kids screaming. I pressed further into the corner and tried to silence my cries as the shooter continued to plow down the rest of my class. I hoped and begged that this was a dream. I didn't want them to die, I didn't want to die.
I blanked for a moment and when I finally came back, I could only see the barrel of a gun pointed at my head. I could feel a limp body on my legs and a final tear rolled down my cheek before he pulled the trigger.
I awoke in the middle of the night. I was sobbing into my pillows and I could feel myself shaking as I remembered my fear. My parents rushed into my room and immediately asked what was wrong. I could only shake my head and whimper. I couldn't remember what exactly had happened to make me feel this way… All I knew was that I couldn't say anything.
