A Cure For Anxiety and Depression

There was only one rule: don’t open the door. That’s what they said when the team of psychologists began my experimental treatment for anxiety and depression.

That was three years ago, just a faint memory now. After many tests, they came to my apartment and began what they called the ‘sterilization stage.’ That’s when they locked away everything they deemed harmful or triggering in a forbidden room. Afterward, I had a check-in every month for two years.

On my last visit, they deemed me cured. I had been off meds and carefree ever since. Not long after, I met Ashley.

She was perfect in every way, except for a strange morbid curiosity with whatever was hiding behind that door. Still life was near perfect- except for that door. It stared at us each day, dark and menacing like a curse.

This morning I awoke to strange sounds, no smell of breakfast, or tv chatter. My heart raced pounding harder than ever - I knew something was wrong. Where was Ashley? A wave of nausea struck me like a knife to the gut.

Turning the corner answers hit me like a hurricane. The forbidden door was wide open, darker and more sinister than I could have ever imagined. Seeing Ashley on the floor, crying, broken, mumbling to herself shattered me.

Shadows crept from the doorway, seemingly alive now. My every fear, sorrow, and shame set free.

Demonic clowns, foul snarling perverse beasts, mangled ghastly faces of girlfriends past. Satanic eyes glaring ready to feast upon our souls.

I fell back paralyzed, biting my lip. Tasting rusty blood and tears I froze in fear, panic, and sorrow. Monsters closed in slobbering and salivating ready to feast. As they clawed forward, evil laughs echoed- I closed my eyes knowing this was our end.