I awoke with a start, covered in cold sweat, heaving as my heart pounded so hard that it hurt.
My shoulders trembled as I lifted myself off my bed, hugging myself tightly as I took in my surroundings in a panic.
I was unable to separate dreams from reality.
The nightmares that plagued me every night made me feel like a criminal on the run, too afraid to sleep, too scared to close my eyes for even a moment because every time I did, I always saw my mother's and grandmother's eyes lose their light, a reminder of how much of a failure I am.
Soon they will come for me, and I will be unable to fight them off. I will die here…a disappointment, a failure.
It took me hours to gather my bearings and compose my spiraling thoughts. When I'd finally come in touch with reality again, the harsh
