The thing was a grotesque chimera. Face of a man, body of a cat. Just beastly enough to instill fear and just human enough to inspire disgust. More than the ugliness of the appearance, what scared him was what it made him feel inside - utter hopelessness. It was like watching an eclipse, only this time you know that the sun will never come out. He was engulfed in an ever darkening shroud of sadness. Every failure, every sadness - they just came together, formed a dark sticky fluid which drowned him into itself. All he could think was - "I will never be happy again."
It moved towards him slowly, as he watched lying prone in his bed. He couldn't move a muscle. They were eye to eye. "You will never be able to leave me behind. I shall always be there", it half purred, half spoke. The real horror in those words for him was realizing that they were true. Such has been his life. He gagged. Could not speak. No matter how much he tried, nothing would come out of his mouth.
Suddenly, there was a thought about Her. There was hope. He clung on to it. With all his might. Every cell of his body was exerted by the effort. Suddenly, he found his voice, "No! NO! YOU WON’T!"
He had screamed loud enough to wake neighbours up. To wake himself up. Drenched in sweat, he turned sideways to see her sleeping peacefully. Oblivious to the demons she fought off a little while ago.
PS: Based on a true story.
