Knock, Knock. Who’s There?

I awakened to answer the relentless knocking at my door, only to realize I hadn’t been asleep.

I don’t remember exactly when I knew I hadn’t fallen asleep. Just like every other night, I took my sleep meds, turned off the light, climbed under the covers, and watched short horror films on my tablet until I dozed. I now know that was probably not the best way to fall into an idyllic slumber, and you would think that my relentless nightmares would give me impetus to change my behavior. You would think.

But, alas, not. At least I was able to awaken from the troubling reveries before, before …

Until now.

As I walked to the door, I mistakenly glanced back at my bed and was horrified to see myself lying atop it, limbs askew, eyes oddly open.

That was the night I died.

And the monsters came for real.