CHAPTER 1
THE WEIGHT ON MY CHEST
DAY 1
That night was ordinary, just like any other.
I fell asleep, and soon I was in a hospital. I was standing there with a few of my friends, all of us worried and silent. One of our closest friends was in critical condition. The atmosphere felt heavy. I hugged one of my friends and tried to comfort her, telling her everything would be fine.
And then—
The dream disappeared.
Suddenly, I was back in my room, lying exactly the way I had fallen asleep—on my stomach, facing the wall.
At first, I thought I had just woken up. But something felt wrong.
I tried to move.
I couldn’t.
My body felt frozen. Not weak—frozen. As if something had switched it off while my mind was still awake. Then I felt it… a strange pressure on my back. It slowly grew stronger, like the mattress beneath me was rising, pressing into me, trying to pin me down.
I tried to lift my head. Nothing.
I tried to move my hands. Nothing.
I tried to scream—but no sound came out.
My heartbeat grew louder and faster, echoing in my ears. I could hear the ceiling fan spinning. That low, steady whirring sound filled the room. The darkness felt thicker than usual, like it wasn’t just absence of light—but something present.
The silence around me felt alive.
I struggled harder, trying to force even a finger to move. The pressure felt heavier now, almost suffocating. It wasn’t just physical—it felt intentional. As if something unseen was holding me down, making sure I stayed still.
I wanted to turn around.
But I was too scared to even try.
What if something was there?
Seconds felt endless. My breathing became shallow. My chest felt tight. I could feel panic crawling through me, but my body refused to respond. I was trapped inside myself.
And then, suddenly—
I could move.
I gasped and pushed myself up immediately. I didn’t look around. I didn’t want to. I jumped out of bed and ran straight toward my parents’ room.
It felt like something was right behind me. Like if I slowed down even for a second, it would grab me.
The corridor was dark. Completely silent. The shadows stretched along the walls, and for a moment, I hesitated. My fear doubled. I felt small in that darkness.
My heart was still racing as I rushed forward.
I don’t know if it was just a nightmare.
Or sleep paralysis.
But that night didn’t feel like a dream.
It felt real.
And sometimes, when I lie down to sleep, I still wonder—
what if next time, I don’t wake up so easily?
