There are no monsters tonight

Note from me - Before you read:

Hi, thank you for checking out: There are no monsters tonight. I truly appreciate it. This story is an excerpt from my nightmares, and although some of my dreams or nightmares are fun, there are those just like this that would haunt me during my waking hours.

In this dream, I heard this kid's voice that desperately called for help. Unfortunately, by the time I got there, they were no longer there.

P.S. Although this short is fictional, some aspects of it can be triggering. Reader discretion is highly advised.

“Sleep my children,” you said. “There are no monsters tonight.”

Such reassuring words that I took to heart as I let myself fall into the dreamland of stars and hope that we would soon be safe.

I dreamed of Ma, in her blue tattered apron that she refused to throw out because I made it for her. The sweet scent of roasted garlic and peppers hung in the air as she lovingly baked the chicken in the oven. You were there too, with Ma, helping her with the meal. The wrinkles that formed at the corners of your eyes when you smiled at the sight of her. You loved hearing her sing to music whether it would be rock that shook our bones, or a soft sad song that told tales of heartbreak and longing.

We all did too. We reminisced that day when we all gathered in the kitchen as a family and made anything that would fill the hunger in our souls.

I dreamed of little Bobby, barely two, who annoyingly clung to my leg and giggled whenever I shook him off. His big dark eyes brightened with curiosity and wonder about the world that he was brought to. I used to despise of the idea of having a brother, but whenever his little hands gripped my pant leg, my heart would melt into a puddle.

Such sweet dreams I wanted to stay in forever. Ma would hold us in her arms as she told us the same stories until we slept. You would then pick up Bobby and me to tuck us into our beds. Every night you reassured us that there would be no monsters and that we would be safe.

But the monsters were real.

Not the ones that were told in fairytales or shown in movies. These monsters did not have jagged pointed teeth, horns that protruded from their foreheads, or sharp talons.

These monsters looked like just you and me. The ones who we knew and trusted to keep us safe.

The siren blared again and I woke covered in dust. My throat was far too parched to scream for help when little Bobby no longer clung to my leg. Ma had not come back from the trip to find us food. And you had not returned since the men ripped you away from our arms so you could die in a battle that no one wanted.

“Sleep my child,” I hummed, rocking little Bobby in my arms. Even with my coat around his tiny body, his skin remained cold and his body stiff. I kept my sobs quiet as I dreamed of the day we would be together again. I didn’t know when would that be again, but I didn’t think it would be soon. The men have found us, dad, and their black boots have surrounded us. I gently closed little Bobby’s eyes and held him tighter in my arms. “Sleep, my child. There are no monsters tonight.”

Maybe if I repeated it enough, the monsters would go away. Maybe if I envisioned it harder - you, me, ma, and little Bobby, would be back in that kitchen, singing songs and making food.

But there were monsters tonight, and I wish that it was not so.

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