Fear.

You feel it all the way to your bones, it settles in your blood, causing it to pump faster than usual to the point where you think you might actually expire from the rush.

You feel anxious, frightened, terrified of the unknown, unable to close your eyes, afraid to breathe as even that might make a sound. A sound you cannot afford because it gives you away.

All this because you let your guard down, you decided to trust, to feel, to know what it’s like to let people in. This is something you haven’t done in a while, this is something you are starting to regret.

You couldn’t help it though, their friendly smiles lured you in, their complements and charm softened your guarded heart, making you forget, making you forget the reasons for your walls.

Now that you are vulnerable, they have struck, at nocturnal hours no less. When you are defenseless in slumber, dreaming of what is, what could have been and what is yet to come.

You awaken to strange sounds, a flash of light disturbs your eyes. You scream and scream, but it’s no good, you let them in, you let your guard down.

All that’s left now is the fear, the fear of their eyes watching you when you least expect, while you’re in slumber or being yourself for once.

It is unsettling, it is cruel, and unfair, but no one is to blame but you.

You let them in.

You let your guard down.