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Not To Worry

November 23, 2022 12 Comments

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Most kids tell me I’m lucky. I have no nightmares. Never. I sleep peacefully, every night. I don’t dream either, but it’s better than screaming in my sleep.

Sleeping is the best part of my day, but Dr. Phelps tells me dreams, even nightmares, serve a purpose. Dreams filter the day’s problems; nightmares scare off our demons. But since I seem well adjusted, he tells me not to worry.

I trust him.

This morning, I woke to sunshine and birds singing outside my window.

As always, Dad was standing beside my bed, his belt dangling from his fist.

Who needs nightmares?

By Ken Goldman

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. S. Webb says

    November 23, 2022 at 7:53 am

    Oh wow. Deep. Great story.

    Reply
  2. Veronique says

    November 23, 2022 at 7:57 am

    Interesting ending. Highly unlikely that a victim of daily abuse would sleep so well though. Well written.

    Reply
  3. Coci says

    November 23, 2022 at 8:41 am

    Powerful, especially the ending.
    Nicely done!

    Reply
  4. Paulene says

    November 23, 2022 at 8:53 am

    God. My hair is standing on end. Stunning. Awful. Beautifully written.

    Reply
  5. Joanie says

    November 23, 2022 at 9:15 am

    Every word counts and you did a great job!

    Reply
  6. Chetana Vaishnavi says

    November 23, 2022 at 9:46 am

    Just great. Not to worry.
    You really do not need nightmares.
    A great story.
    Only hoping it was not a true one.

    Reply
  7. Jon Gluckman says

    November 23, 2022 at 9:52 am

    Really enjoyed this. Dark! Sinister!

    Reply
  8. 2912 says

    November 23, 2022 at 12:21 pm

    Finding out who the real demon is, nice twist.

    Reply
  9. Jennifer J. says

    November 23, 2022 at 4:14 pm

    Great ending!

    Reply
  10. JK Hayward-Trout says

    November 23, 2022 at 4:59 pm

    I do love a twist in a story but I have to agree with Veronique that it is unlikely the child would not have nightmares; that being said, maybe, he would never share them with anyone… ?

    Reply
  11. Tom Baldwin says

    November 23, 2022 at 6:34 pm

    Great story. The ending made me shiver.

    Reply
  12. Valli says

    November 24, 2022 at 4:48 pm

    Great read… if sad… kudos …

    Reply

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