fear
the panting yields to deep breaths. the heartbeat sounds as loud as a jackhammer. pupils dilate in the darkness. every ambient sound is magnified hundred-fold. the hairs on his body stand on end. the train hurtling towards him seems to be crawling at a snail's pace. he tugs at his leg stuck between the rail ties. to no avail. the train is mere seconds away, but to his heightened senses it could be an eternity. as the train approaches mere feet away, he closes his eyes and accepts his fate. wondering what could be taking the train so long, he opens his eyes and watches the bumper a matter of inches away from his torso...
eyes open and he gazes at his surroundings. he's in his bed, at home. the sound of crickets chirping invade the silence of the afternoon. he sits up in bed, feeling his heart thub-thumping away. any louder and faster and it might just explode. he looks back to where he lay. a large, wet dark blue patch contrasts with the lighter blue of his sheets. he looks down at his t-shirt plastered to his chest. the back of his neck is beaded with cold sweat. a stench pervades the air. it is the stench of fear.
eyes open and he gazes at his surroundings. he's in his bed, at home. the sound of crickets chirping invade the silence of the afternoon. he sits up in bed, feeling his heart thub-thumping away. any louder and faster and it might just explode. he looks back to where he lay. a large, wet dark blue patch contrasts with the lighter blue of his sheets. he looks down at his t-shirt plastered to his chest. the back of his neck is beaded with cold sweat. a stench pervades the air. it is the stench of fear.
