Nightmare

Miles giggled as he peaked through the gap in the wardrobe doors. He couldn’t hear Leila anywhere. He was sure it had been 10 minutes already, but it felt like an eternity in here. The space started to feel stuffy and too warm.*Creak*Ah-ha Leila must be close that was definitely one of the floorboards in the hallway outside the room. *Squeak*The door opened to the room and his breathing quickened as he struggled to contain himself. He didn’t dare breathe but he wanted to laugh. The excitement and trepidation were building inside him.

‘” Miles…Where are you? I’m coming to find you’”.

Leila sounded really close. Miles realised that perhaps he had hidden in a stupidly obvious place now he had given it some thought. He knew once he had been found though it was time for ice-cream and jelly, so he didn’t want to make it too hard. She stopped outside the wardrobe door and he stilled and slowing his breathing. The door slowly opened.

“Rawwrr” screamed Miles as he jumped out at Leila.

Leila screamed and stumbled backwards, tripping over the chair next to the bed. Miles watched as if it was slow motion, he couldn’t get to her before she fell backwards, right through the full-length mirror. He stood shocked. Leila wasn’t moving and he was scared to go towards her, fearing what he would see.

Miles felt the warm urine run down his leg and make a puddle at his feet. He heard footsteps running up the stairs.

“Oh my god, oh my god” his mother shouted, panic evident in her voice.

“Gary? Gary? Ring the ambulance quickly. Leila is hurt.

“SHIT, I’ll get on the phone now” Gary replied.

Miles started to cry, he ran to his bedroom and got under the bed. He was scared, worried and frightened. After a few minutes, he heard his father come into the room.

“Come out Miles, tell me what happened. Your sister is going to get some help, the ambulance is on the way”.

Miles sniffled. He didn’t want to come out.

“Please Miles” his father repeated.

Miles slithered from under the bed. His father sat on the bed and patted the space next to him.

“We were playing hide and seek, I jumped out on her, and she fell backwards. It was an accident”. Mile told his father, as he snivelled.

“It’s ok Miles I know you wouldn’t hurt her. We will stay here until the ambulance men are here.” He replied.

The minutes ticked away. Not long after he heard his mother scream. Miles tucked himself into his father. He could hear his mother sobbing; the help had arrived. His mother came into the bedroom, covered in blood, eyes full of tears.

“It’s too late,” she said.

“He killed my girl; he killed my baby girl Gary”.

“No, he didn’t it was an accident Laura, she fell he told me,” replied Gary.

Laura laughed manically. Walked over to where Miles and Gary sat. The shard of the mirror was hidden in her hand. The shard which she plunged into Miles’ chest…

That was when Miles woke from his nightmare. He had urinated in his bed again. The nightmare played over and over in his mind since his sister’s death 7 years previous in a car accident. He heard his mother downstairs humming to the radio while she did breakfast. He got out of bed, cleaned himself up and put his sheets in the wash before going downstairs.

“Miles, good morning sweetheart. Want some breakfast?” His mother asked before walking over to kiss him on the head.

“I would love some mum, thank you” and he sat at the table thanking God that his nightmare wasn’t real.