Here I was again, alone in the dark. I was so tired of visiting this place, it gave me an almost sickening feeling just standing in nothing. I couldn't move, I just stood in this same spot. At least, I think I'm in the same spot. It's really hard to tell where you're in the dark. There were no sounds, no smells, nothing. I couldn't help but wonder if I'd finally died. Suddenly, something unexpected happened; I heard a voice.

'Do it, just do it,' the gentle voice called, distant, but feeling so close. I felt so unsure, but the voice was so calming, like an elderly brother.

'You can't,' screamed another voice, more frantic than the first, 'not yet.' I had no clue what the "it" was that the two were talking about, so I took a deep breath, allowing my head to clear from the barrage of yells coming from unknown sources in the dark. I opened my eyes to find myself amongst a woodland clearing. The fresh smell of the outdoors relaxed my senses and silenced the persuading voices. The only break in the tranquility of the place was the usual chirping of crickets and the occasional call of a raven. I scanned around the lush green trees and thick shrubs for a location of the two voices that stopped talking just a little too soon to not give me a feeling of chills being sent down my spine. Nothing moved. The leaves of the trees were frozen, even a draft of wind couldn't be felt against my skin. 'Am i dreaming?' I thought to myself as my brain began comprehending the foreboding sense of the situation. I looked up to the darkened treetops; the familiar blue of the sky was blocked out by the thick layers of dark green and brown leaves; sunlight crept through in small patches of light like stars embedded in a sea of toxic waste, glowing radiantly. Moss, shrouded by dark shadows, crept toward me like sickly green hands of Death as it traveled across the mahogany hued dirt. I took in a deep breath, the aroma that could only be created by nature engulfed me and I felt truly at peace.

'Don't be deceived! Don't...' the frantic voice called again, sounding louder and more panicked as I allowed myself to be captivated by the beauty and euphoria of the place I was standing in. It sounded more female this time, middle-aged, motherly.

But I didn't care. I was entranced, hooked. Addicted. I needed more of this feeling of freedom, this inner peace that I rarely ever had a taste of. It was a feeling I had longed for, my deepest desire.

'Join me, forever.' The first voice was back again, its cool, calming tone enveloped my ears, shutting out the consistent chirping and cawing. It reminded me of an old friend that I'd always wished for, someone who actually understood me. Someone who loved me. Tears started flowing from my eyes as I prayed that I could finally find my happiness. I knew it could be found here, with the voice that gave me a sense of hope and a feeling of contentment. I'd been fighting for so long, I just wanted the pain to stop...

'NO!' the woman's voice shrieked and the raven cawed loudly. I opened my eyes and found myself awake in my own bedroom, face down in my dark blue comforter.