I desperately wish my rasping breaths would silence as I swerve through the tree's. I reward myself of the exercise by leaning against one of the tree barks. I attempt to calm myself by closing my eyes and focusing on the quietness.

But then my body freezes and hope deflates inside of me when a whisper kisses my ear, "Hello there."

Sweat clings to me like a hot, sticky sheet. I feel the drumbeat erupting in my chest and I jolt up on my bed. Paranoia courses through my veins as it leads me to scan my room.

Frustration curls in my gut and makes me grip the bed sheets.

For the past two weeks, I have been plagued with nightmares and nights where I'm clenching my throat in an act not to scream.

I curse myself for losing another battle to sleep and rake a trembling hand through my hair. Childishness controls my body to look under my bed.

I pause when a voice like thorns, mockingly enveloped with honey speaks into the silence. "We stop looking for monsters when we realise,"

Lips touch my neck and only the fear of what consequences might come if I make a slight movement stops me from shivering.

My heart hammers in my throat as the next words are laced with gloominess, "They're inside of us."

It seems I was able to sleep again after that since the inside of my eyelids start to turn red and I am almost blinded by the morning rays.

Sunlight bleeds into the room as I open my eyes fully.

I have mixed feelings about the morning. I wonder whether I should be grateful that I woke up or furious that it's just another useless day which happens to save me from the night.

I linger in bed and squint at the ceiling experiencing the familiar floating jelly-like shapes. It's the only fun I will probably have today.

Eventually, I whip off the duvet and drag myself to the bathroom.

No dark bags are visible when I check my face in the mirror. So far so good. It is a miracle none have appeared yet as it would be easily seen against my pale skin. It reminds me of the pale, silver strands hidden in the mane of my walnut brown, curly hair. I never tie my hair too tightly when going to bed so the hair band most likely got lost in my hair. I wiggle my fingers as I run my hand in my hair in search for it, and wince whiles pulling it out as it tugs on strands. Once I've shaped my mane into a tiny knot on top of my head, I grab the shower cap that was hanging on the door handle of the shower door and put it on since I'm too lazy to wash the mane today.

After I've finished brushing my teeth, I hum as I place the wet toothbrush in the pot and allow my tongue to swipe around the inside of my mouth to feel the minty sweetness that the toothpaste left.

Then I lock the bathroom door for safety reassurance and rest my ears against the door expecting to hear some type of movement outside of it.

Some type of evidence that I'm not going crazy- to prove that I was not alone in my bedroom last night.

But of course nothing.

Oddly satisfied, I strip off my pyjamas and step into the shower. Twisting the knob, I get ready for the attack of cold water. And there it is, like hail.

I am slowly met by warmth plummeting my skin so I lean against the shower wall and join my eyelids.

I immediately regret it when the words from last night float back to my mind. Blurred into each other like I'm underwater but easy to remember, unfortunately.

My trembling fingers reach for the dove bar soap and sponge on the dish as I start to feel stupid and paranoid. The rest of the shower is spent clumsily scrubbing myself whiles looking intently, through the glass shower doors, at the bathroom door.

When I'm done, I take off the shower cap, dry myself and put on my uniform. A skill I've mastered is hopping down the stairs with one foot at a time to put on my shoe and I do just that. Once I'm downstairs, I sit onto the chair near the kitchen table and read the text from my mum whiles biting into the rice krispies cereal bar she left for me on the counter.

'Have a nice day at school Lynne♡'

'Thanks mum♡', I reply.

I switch off my phone and place it on the table. Chewing the last bits of the cereal bar in my mouth, I make an attempt to throw the wrapper into the bin knowing it won't reach.

As I predicted, it does not reach. Instead it glides through the air, almost seeming to be riding on something, before landing gently on the table; not making it far at all.

Lightly chuckling to myself at the useless attempt, I swing my backpack on and drop the wrapper into the bin on the way to the door.

My hand touches the knob and twists, but I lean my forehead against the door knowing I've forgotten something.

I turn around having a mini heart attack after seeing a fading wisp of stark white. Whiles drawing an invisible cross on my chest, I take long strides to the kitchen table.

I quickly snatch my phone, bolt out of the house, shamelessly slam the door shut and lock it as fast as I can as if spirits will come out of my house.

My eyes squint in concentration as I try picking off a long strand of hair that is draped on my thumb whiles making my way to the bus stop shelter.

I lift it high to drop it and little thuds from my heart begin when I see it clear and pale even in the sunlight. It's stark white.

Carelessly, I let go of it. The strand swirls in the light wind before landing. Not caring how it looks from a neighbours window, I stamp on it as if it's an insect.

As the bus comes, I straighten myself and grip onto my backpack straps. The door opens and I make sure not to trip as I always do when getting onto the bus. I smile at the bus driver whiles swiping my bus pass.

Slipping off my backpack, I take the front seat behind the rear doors. The bus starts to move and I decide to regain the sleep I lost from last night.

I jump at a deep voice saying, "Hello Jackie Napier."

I turn my head to see a charcoal brown curtain of hair blocking someone's face. And that someone's face is my friend Jiaying Liu.

She giggles and sweeps her long hair back so that I'm met with her narrow, almond shapes eyes. The natural sunlight does justice to her olive skin.

Jiaying jumps onto the seat beside me and pops the p when saying, "What's up?"

"The sky," I reply instead of answering with the usual 'Not much'. The silence invites itself and I drift off to sleep.

Later, I am woken up by a loud eruption of boys laughter. My heart calms when I look out of the window and see that I have not arrived at hell yet.

"Dog eater!", a male voice shouts and I whip my head around so hard I almost snap my neck.

Before I open my mouth another girl replies, "You must have eaten shit for breakfast 'cause you're an asshole."

Her braids seem like a whirlwind as she turns to look at Jiaying, whose rounded cheeks are now slightly blushed with pink, and gives her a comforting nod.

Poor Jiaying can't say anything but before I can thank the girl on her behalf a boy fires back, "Fuck you!"

"Not even at your Bar Mitzvah!"

"The hell?"

"Go back to hell if you miss it so much but I see no point since I've already burned you."

"This girl is just an annoying bitch. Lets just get off."

"If I'm annoying, then you're looking in the mirror. And seriously? A bitch? My bark is equally as good as my bite." I giggle as she bats her eyelashes in addition.

As the boys exit, I hear one of them say ,"I didn't even invite her to my Bar Mitzvah."

And another one exclaim, "Dude you ain't even bloody Jewish!"

The walnut skinned girl with braids winks and stretches her lips into a smile.

I look around for her when I step off the bus. I don't see her so Jiaying and I walk towards the school gates as the wind whips our clothes and I start to feel moisture faintly dropping onto my forehead.

Classic British weather.

*******

Bible Verse- Job 7:13-16
I lie down and try to rest; I look for relief from my pain. But you- you terrify me with dreams; you send me visions and nightmares until I would rather be strangled than live in this miserable body. I give up; I am tired of living. Leave me alone. My life makes no sense.