I ran up the stairs to my room, the same thought running through my head like a broken record replaying itself. I opened the bedroom door, ran in, and slammed it behind me. I crumpled to the floor, tears streaming down my face as if the floodgates had been opened by some evil, conniving villain. Even though my sobs were fierce and loud, I could still hear the pounding of footsteps running up the stairs followed by knocks on my door.
     I shoved my fist in my mouth and bit as hard as I could in an attempt to silence myself. I wanted to be left alone, this had to be a nightmare. I squeezed my eyes shut in an attempt to make the world around me disappear. I could hear their voices and relentless knocking outside of my room. They tried the door knob a few times, but the door wouldn’t budge against the dead weight of my body.
     After what seemed like hours of lying on the floor, I drifted into unconsciousness on the floor after they had all went back to their lives on the other side of the door. I dreamt of nothing but darkness.

     When I woke, my body ached, my throat was dry, and my eyes were sore. My fist had scabs shaped like teeth and the surrounding skin was bruised. I looked up at the white ceiling above me, my mind blank and yet containing a million thoughts. Was yesterday just some horrible nightmare or was it real? The only way I could think to resolve the dilemma tormenting my brain was to pull myself off the floor and head downstairs.
     I rolled onto my stomach, curled my knees under me and pushed up with my hands. I was nervous, scared, frightened, and completely terrified at what waited for me. I fumbled to my feet, leaning against the door for support with one hand on the brass knob. I could tell that my breathing was shallow as I turned the knob. I didn’t want to face this, I didn’t want to know the truth.
     I opened the door quickly, my hand catching the door frame to hold myself up. I hesitated in the door way and hesitantly took one step forward out into the hallway. The house was silent, not a whisper could be heard upstairs or downstairs. It must be true.
     I ran for the stairs, forcing myself down them two at a time. I ran from room to room looking for my family wanting the comfort of their arms, needing them to tell me things would be fine. I ran to the kitchen door, breathed deeply, exhaled, and opened the door. The sight I saw was far too real to be a nightmare.
     Blood bathed the walls and stained the white linen table cloth. What should have been a family sitting at a table eating breakfast were just mangled body parts lying in various places around the kitchen. My mother’s head was in the sink, my father’s arm in a pot on the stove, and my brother’s leg lie on the table. There was, however, one intact body in the kitchen other than my own. His back was turned to me and was shrouded in black, but I would know the figure anywhere.
     It was him. The young man they told me was dead yesterday was now standing before me. They told me there had been an accident, that he didn’t survive. But he was here. I ran up to him, wrapping my arms around his body. He was cold, hard, and damp from the blood. I could feel his body twist around in my arms and then two strong, solid arms wrap around my waist.
     I rested my head against his chest, uncaring that my clothing was being soaked by the blood. I could feel his lips against my ear now, whispering, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to….”
     I looked up to see his pale face and ruby red eyes staring down at me sorrowfully. I pressed my finger to his lips, “Shhh, it’s okay. I knew you weren’t dead. I knew it was a nightmare. You would never leave me.”
     Tears escaped my eyes and a smile came to my lips. He looked at me, his face still sorrowful and whispered, “What about your family?”
     “As long as I have you, nothing else matters. Including my family.”
     “But…”
     “But nothing. Make me like you.” I demanded. “If you do, then the police will think some crazy psycho killed the family, including me.”
     He nodded, knowing I was right and leaned in to kiss my neck sweetly. “Somewhere else, please?” he asked.
     I nodded and grabbed his hand, leading him away from the massacre in the kitchen and up the stairs to my bedroom where making love turned to a bitter end and a sweeter beginning of eternity.