{"sf1_id":1154751,"sf2_id":"k1VOd4Ae","title":"Realm-sleep...","author":"Jiblits","words":634,"posted_at":"2017-03-06T09:15:00.000Z","tags":["Poetry","Psychological","Short Story","nightmare","slice of life"],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/1154751-realm-sleep","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/k1VOd4Ae","image_url":"https://cdn.sofurryfiles.com/submissions/thumbnails/e9/1c/e91c60db-7212-463c-8468-5e3f6ae07fe5","description":"","content":"Realm-sleep...\n\n  \n\n  \n\nAs seen before, I wake in dreams to a very familiar door\n\n  \n\nThe handle broken, handle laying on the floor\n\n  \n\nA cold breeze felt from the other side\n\nA feeling I forget from time to time chills memories I try to hide\n\n  \n\nWooden with wear shown, seeming sturdy still\u0026nbsp;\n\nIt brings me moments on a path with dreams I can no longer fulfill\n\n  \n\nAs I walk back, the door creaks open with every step taken\n\nNever turning my back, I see shadows gathering, with twisting smiles of happiness mistaken\n\n  \n\nIt seems my nightmares from dreams are about to make themselves clear\n\nAs I stop in place, I see among the dark, darker shadows waiting for a glimpse of fear\n\n  \n\nI take breath heavily as my stomache begins to turn\n\nTheir intent filled stares never wavering on me slowly begin to burn\n\n  \n\nA feel a wall behind me as the door opens complete, no place left to go\n\nThe motions they make are precise, my exit nowhere to be seen...they must know\n\n  \n\nWith each blink they near, ever more fill the room till they could touch my being\n\nAggressive with my sight, I think back to what I'm really seeing\n\n  \n\nEach taking me down a road I left for good reason, making me see what I could never guarantee would of been\n\n  \n\nWith flashes of those who could say no more, I see what never will be from then\n\n  \n\nEven still, these outcomes, this possible regret fills my every vain\n\n  \n\nSome showing my worst worry, giving me the most heart-filled pain...\n\n  \n\nAs each takes me to the places I try to avoid in thought\n\nI stagger among those times I hadn't fought\n\n  \n\nMy reasons, my choices, chance\n\n  \n\nThey show all to eyes unbarring of self-doubt at a glance\n\n  \n\n\u0026nbsp;Eyes held open, I hold together my breaking sanity\n\n  \n\nTrying to remember why I still move on, ...my humanity...\n\n  \n\nSlowly this eternity takes pieces \u0026 throws them into the room that harbors this conscious beast\n\n  \n\nSaving all they can of a troubled man, waiting till there's no more left for the feast\n\n  \n\n  \n\nStunned with self-doubt, sounds of those I help echo among the horrid silence that surrounds what has always remained\n\n  \n\nPart of a thought that grows from nothing gained\n\n  \n\n  \n\nSomething bellowing among still places\n\nSomething with no name, from no hellish reality or heavenly graces\n\n  \n\nThe door moving back \u0026 forth now slowly gaining \u0026nbsp;strength\n\nIt has \u0026 always will survive, far beyond my own life's length\n\n  \n\nAs it shows more, the shadows begin to back into the room once more\n\nAs the last leaves it's mark, slowly something begins to close the door...\n\n  \n\nI look again only seeing a shell of what was my reflection\n\n  \n\nAs I stare into the broken handle hole, I see... me... wandering about with no direction\n\n  \n\nI lock eyes with it, as it stares with no shadows behind\n\n  \n\nIt's become numb to them, it is, they are all in its mind\n\n  \n\nThe eyes show only a smile chilling to define\n\n  \n\nIt's familiar...it's mine...\n\n  \n\nIt fades into darkness, again waving not a bye, but a \"see you tomorrow\"\n\n  \n\nAs I close my eyes, I feel a sickly slumber overwhelm me...\n\n  \n\nI shake awake, checking the time....5 minutes past....it seems I still have much time to borrow\n\n  \n\nBroken, burdened, beginning to need the rest...\n\nI close my eyes again, settling in, knowing I quietly give another try for a piece of peace, as I lay in my.....It's nest...\n\n  \n\n  \n\n\"Sleep a given, time is taken\n\nWhat we lose is often forgotten as we awaken..\"\n\n  \n\n\"The price, no value to place\n\nWe show only the cost each day on every face...\"\n\n  \n\n  \n\n  \n\n---Thanks for reading---\n\n\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;---Always---\n  \n  \n\n"}