Something feels off, I looked up at my waving neighbor as I walked past his house.

“Good morning!” He said gleefully just as always.

I smiled back matching his attitude

“Good-“ my smile faded, looking down at my watch. “It’s-it’s 4 in the afternoon?” I answered staring puzzled at my watch, he’s not usually one to misspeak.

I looked back up at him, but no one was there… Odd… I continued back home scratching my head. I must be tired work was busy. Work…what happened today anyway. I looked behind me down the road, seeing the perfect paralleling houses and lawns. Perfect, going as far as I could see. Just normal like always, then why does everything seem so earie? I looked ahead, my house seemed to appear in front of me. Home at last. I walked up to my door. Before hearing my neighbor call out to me again, yet in a panicked voice.

“Hey!” He said almost sternly, as if shunning a child.

My head whipped around.

“What’s wrong?” I questioned, his tone putting me slightly in a panic.

“Don’t-“ he said still stern before his face met mine and immediately lightened up. “You should come over to my house!” He said a giant smile painted on his face.

“Oh uh-“ I thought, before I glanced at my door. My eyes met back to his semetrical features. “Nah, not today” I said waving my hand sincerely. “Maybe some other day-…actually when was the last time I’ve when back to my house?” My mind running through the past few days, he’d always stop me, when was the last time I’ve gone in my house? It probably needs to be cleaned.

“No! Common dude I thought we were gonna hang out today!” He grabbed my shoulder walking me out to my driveway. “Let’s go!”

“I think I should go home.” I broke free of his grip, he had lit a small fuse with his rough handling.

“Don’t go back don’t you want to, stay here with me!” He said grabbing me again but with both hands. “Remember how it was like? It’s perfect here. You’re not leaving.” His dark words not matching his bright smile.

“Why are you acting like this? Just-I’m tired, I’m going to bed.” I pushed him off, why is he acting like this? I put my hand on the doorknob, and turned it.

“I guess I could only keep you so long” he sighed disappointed.

I looked back, gone again? My breathing spiked, what’s going on? I’m probably just-dehydrated and-and-tired! I looked back forward, and shoved the door open. My eyes widened as I stared at my house. My heart speed up. Everything black as if I was going color blind. I knew that wasn’t the case, scratched all over was two words. Two giant words, in a deep red brighter then blood. My heart sliced up my throat, and a scorching heat spread from my chest as my eyes rendered the words.

WAKE UP