• Preface


    My eyes narrow. There he is. Sitting in his living room as if he had never done anything wrong. As if he hadn't torn my family apart. The book he is reading falls limply in his lap as he gapes at me. I know he can see me, and I smile coldly. The smile feels out of place and awkward on my face, I have never smiled this way before. His eyes widen in terror as he stares at me, shock clearly exposing the fact he wasn't expecting me. I saunter forth, and he jumps from his chair throwing his book uselessly at me, his sense of reason dampened by his fear. I laugh cruelly as he jumps back when the book doesn't even graze me. He backs up, knocking lamps and knick knocks over.
    "This isn’t possible. This isn't real!" he whispers brokenly.
    "I'm afraid it is." I say coolly back. He flinches at the sound of my voice as though I had slapped him. I step forward and he steps back. On and on this game goes until I'm fed up with it, and cross to the room to him so fast all he can see is a blur. I grab him by his throat and shove him against the living room wall. His eyes begin to tear and he stares at me. Even though I am half his age, I easily hold him to the wall as he struggles.
    "Please. Please. I didn't want to hurt you. I didn't mean to-" I cut him off there, squeezing his throat tighter.
    "What? You didn't mean to tear my family apart? You didn't mean to cause my mother to go crazy? You didn't mean to kill me?" I snarl, my voice as sharp as broken glass. She tries to shake his head free from my grasp, but I'm not having that. I only smile my newfound smile, and squeeze tighter.

    As I shake myself free of this dream, I wish to God it was true.