Midnight's Gift

In a wide, dark and empty passageway Catherine Forbs stood. A place she does not recognise. Her pulse beating rapidly; air was barely able to reach her lungs. She felt as if she was dying slowly; losing the ability to breathe with every inhale. It felt as if an invisible stone was on her chest, making it hard to breathe, harder than it already was. Her eyes opened wide, staring at the familiar white ceiling filled with her drawings that made her realise that it was nothing but a dream; yet it was still hard to breathe. How could it have been just a dream? she sat up bolt and removed the cover off of her before the cold ground met her bare feet. 12:00 AM, her digital clock said. Brand new day, October 10th of 1954… My birthday, she thought. My sixteenth birthday. Sweet sixteen to me, I guess. She slid the curtains open, then unlocked her window in hopes to get some fresh air, but it did not help, it was still hard to breathe. She walked down the hall and pushed open the bathroom and let the shower’s cold-water drip and immediately stood underneath, without caring about her clothes getting wet. She lifted her head up, eyes closed, taking the feeling of the chilly water running down her face, soaking her, removing the heat she felt moments ago. She stayed there in silence, not knowing what is going on. why was my room hot as hell? She wondered. Why do I feel like I am burning slowly from the inside? After a long moment of silence under the running water, she reached for the faucet to stop it from dripping, ready to get out of the tub and forget whatever madness she was feeling. But as she reached for the faucet; the water stopped without her having to turn it off.