Josh Marcus

The protective candle

I awake in a cold sweat in the middle of the night for what feels like the ninth night in a row. Its always the same dream that gets me: Im alone in a dark, cold wooden shed. There is no doors, and the only light aside from the moon came from a candle sitting on the window 🕯. Im in the middle of the floor and i cant move. Any time I try to cry out for help, there's no sound. Now that i think of it, there was virtually no sound other than my losing my mind telling myself "This is only a dream". In the midst of my frantic pleading to myself, the candle blows out and there's a bone rattling chill accompanied by a strange sound i could barely make out. My eyes are drawn to the window, and what ever i see next is what awakens me. My family has a history of mental illness, so i tend to go to therapy to try and grasp why i have these constant dreams and to see if its anything to worry about. "What in your life is going wrong? Is there anyone in your life giving you problems?" Etc. None of which helps, as life is pretty good so far. My friends are cool, plus ive been having these dreams for the past couple weeks and aside from the creeps and the constant feeling of being watched, im usually fine. But today, something felt different. I told my self i wont get scared, that id try and figure this out in the dream. I get home after work and get ready for bed, eager but also terrified of what could have me terrified all day without even knowing what it is. Dream starts the same, this time however im silent. Observing everything. The wood smells damp and decayed. The air smelled stale and it was warm. The candle is lit and for some reason seems to be alive, as if it's been watching me. I can feel something different this time. Id usually be crying like a child by now, but this time im determined to find out what's been tormenting me. The lights been flickering like normal, but something in me makes me scream "WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME" which is surprising because before this I was never able to hear anything. The light keeps flickering, but its slower. "What do you keep saying to me?" The flame stops at that moment. I awake, but this time i feel almost normal. I call my sister about it, she's more into spiritual things than i am so she seemed like the best person.