Unseen Hand

As I laid motionless in bed, paralyzed and unable to cry out, I felt an ominous presence behind me. Slowly turning my head, my body remained frozen in place, unable to see what lurked in the darkness.

Faint whispers drifted through the air, repeating my name over and over, growing louder and more frenzied. A hand gripped my shoulder, refusing to release despite my attempts to shake free of its viselike hold.

Panic flooded through me as the urgent whispers intensified. I struggled in vain to scream, but no sound emerged. The hand tightened its grip as hot breath slithered down my neck.

Sensing the dark figure looming inches behind me, its malevolent energy permeated the air. This was no human - it was something far more sinister.

Helpless and terrified, I could only endure the unrelenting whispers. I prayed for the nightmare to end but the presence persisted.

Then suddenly it released me, the whispers falling silent. The dark figure retreated and I sighed with relief, regaining control of my body.

I realized this was sleep paralysis. Fearing the return of the malevolent presence, I dreaded falling back asleep, unsure if next time it would release me so easily.

I prayed this would be my first and only encounter with the horrors of sleep paralysis.