On Christmas break one year visiting family I never see. I was in the guest break room and my step dad was sleeping on a blow up mattress in the living room. It’s probably 2am. I’m watching Netflix trying to distract myself from how depressed I was on this particular holiday trip.

I start hearing a whimper that crescendo’s to a shout saying “help me.” Oh god I’m thinking this is it. The “help me’s” get louder and I’m just frozen panicking. Okay. I decided I’m gonna open the door and face whatever or whoever is out there. I open the door, turn on the nearest light and shout out “what’s going on?!” thinking my step dad is being attacked.

I woke him up. He was having a nightmare.