𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐦𝐚𝐬 𝐈𝐧 𝐀 𝐁𝐨𝐱 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝐈𝐈𝐈.

15 - 𝐇𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬.

It was the night before Christmas, and all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
But then, a strange noise filled the air,
A creak and a groan, like something was there.
I peered out the window, to see what was there,
And there stood a man, with eyes of despair.
His face was white, like a ghostly shade,
And he stood there, with a grim and eerie gaze.
He stared at the house, with a terrifying glare,
And my heart started pounding, with terror and fear.

Then he started to move, towards the front door,
And I trembled in fear, as I'd never felt before.
He reached for the handle, with a terrifying grip,
And I knew I must run, or I'd surely slip.

I ran for the stairs, but my feet were like lead,
As my heart raced with panic, filling me with dread.
Then, I heard the door open, with a terrible creak,
And I knew he was coming, and I couldn't speak.
I cowered in terror, as he stepped inside,
And I felt like a child caught in a nightmare, from which I couldn't wake,
As the nightmare man, my house did invade.
I felt his presence, as he drew near,
And the terror within me, grew ever more clear.
Then he stood before me, with eyes of black,
And in a deep voice, he spoke, with a haunting crack.

"Merry Christmas my dear, I've come for your soul,
Your nightmares are real and now you're in my control."
With that, I felt a chill, like ice on my skin,
As my nightmare became real.

And I woke up, in my bed, safe and sound,
Realizing it was only a dream, that had me bound.
The relief was immense, as I breathed a sigh.
Grateful that the nightmare was only a lie.
I curled up in my covers, and drifted back to sleep,
Away from the terror, a quiet and peaceful keep.
I dreamed of sugar plums, and things that were sweet,
A calm and peaceful sleep, that was a delight to meet.

And when I awoke, the nightmare was gone,
My fears had dissolved like a dream that was just a mirage that I no longer had to face.
I took a deep breath, and got out of bed,
Grateful for the day ahead, and the dream that was shed.

As I went about my day, I felt lighter and free,
No longer bound by the nightmare, that had been haunting me.
I was grateful for the new day, with no terror to bear,
And I smiled, knowing the nightmare, was simply a nightmare.
And so, as I went about my day, I held the lesson near,
That fear was only a dream.

© Oluwatomipe Kunle-Ajagbe.