It was a cool night. The wind was refreshing. From the rooftop, he could see the whole city.
Here, it's so serene. And everything seems small, like it fits in his palm. The night has such power to trick your mind.
And then, he's suddenly on the edge, he wondered how he got there. And why was there such a pull to throw himself down? He tried to resist. Yet eventually, he did. The height did not scare him. The fall did. And he struggled to hold on to something. Only, there was none.
*** ***
"Wake up," said the voice. Barely audible, lower than a whisper. Like from a distance. But he heard it clear.
Slowly he woke, struggling to remember everything from the dream. Like he does, each time. And the voice dissipates with the memories, as soon as he opens his eyes.
**** **
Another night, but the same spot.
This time, he closed his eyes. Listened to the breeze, and looked beyond the lights. Maybe he can find answers now. Maybe the dream would stop.
Then there was that faint light that flickered just a couple of rooftops away. He saw a girl. And a shadow.
He saw the shadow push the girl over the edge, and he froze. A second passed. And then two. When his senses came back, he jumped, wanting to catch her. Yet she was beyond reach.
He screamed, yet it seemed no voice would come out. Then it all faded to black.
**** **
"Wake up," he heard again. And he was breathless. As if he had been screaming at the top of his lungs. As if he ran out of air, and then passed out.
Tonight, it seemed too real. More terrifying. Because this time, he wasn't the one falling over the edge.
And this time, the voice lingered and the memory did not leave. It kept haunting him, even in the light of day.
*** **
It could not go on. It had to stop. The dream recurred a few more nights, exactly how it was the first time: the same spot, and the same horror unfolding before his eyes.
He wanted to stop the shadow. Or at least save the girl from the fall. But she was always a rooftop or two away. He couldn't get to her on time. He kept waking up drained and terrified.
*** **
He got there early. The shadow and the girl were nowhere in sight. They haven't come yet. Or was he too late? He hoped not. It left a chill on his spine.
Out of nowhere, he heard her scream. He saw her, again, two rooftops away. This time, she seemed to be fighting off the shadow. Struggling to break from its hold. Only, it wouldn't let her. It was strong.
Then he shouted to her, yelling with all his might. She seemed to have heard, and looked his way. Right before she fell down. With tears spilling from her eyes, like tiny stars falling from the sky. Leaving a trail of what seemed like fairy lights.
*** **
It had been a few months since and the dream did not return. Mostly, he was glad it was over. But he often wondered what happened to the girl. Did she survive?
*** **
It's group therapy night. It's his second time, and he figured it's better being here than be nagged by his gradmom all night about him refusing to go.
And it wasn't that bad. Listening to others is, at times, better than listening to the same doubts in his head. Depression sucks. Big time.
There were new faces, and some old ones. People were introducing themselves and telling some about their struggles.
Nothing out of the ordinary. Same boring stories.
"... to wake up from that nightmare, and... "
His eyes shot towards the woman speaking. Albeit almost too quickly, it made his head spin a little. It's the one with doe-like eyes, and a voice that sounded like she had just barely stopped crying. She seemed all too familiar. Even the way she said those two words that caught his ears.
He wasn't paying much attention to what she said. Just to the sound of her voice. It barely even registered to him that she finished talking and had taken her seat.
When his turn came, he hesitated. And looked at her. She, too, seemed to be bored, she was looking down at the purse in her lap. Clearly trying not to fidget.
He began, and she looked up. Curious. And he started seeing the tiny stars that fell. Only, her eyes were dry and not shedding tears. But it held a question. Maybe more. Then slowly, recognition.
For a second, it seemed like Time slowed down, if not completely halted. Suddenly, it felt like they were at the rooftop again.
