I probably look quite comical right now, walking in my pink, polka dot pajamas and bed slippers down the dark street past three in the morning.525Please respect copyright.PENANAK2HtVHMDGJ
Still, I walk, determination in every step, every movement, my eyes burning painfully, probably an angry shade of red.525Please respect copyright.PENANAt95H0pqcHs
You see, I can't sleep.
It's a horrible feeling; as I stared blindly towards my ceiling in the absolute darkness of my room, my eyes burned, begging for rest; my body ached, weeping for the oblivion of sleep.
However, neither need was satiated.525Please respect copyright.PENANAGeDiIdyIWn
Usually, mysleeping pills allow me to rest, but it seems as if they haven't worked tonight.
Well, I should say 'this morning', considering the time. 525Please respect copyright.PENANAuz00XT3Sib
After laying in the bed for hours and becoming no closer to sleep than I was at the beginning of the night, I've come to the conclusion that I wouldn't be sleeping any time soon if I stayed there.525Please respect copyright.PENANAA2a2j8OTnb
Growling under my breath, I rolled out of the bed and stood up. I turned to my right, and looked out my bedroom window, into the dark, moonless night.525Please respect copyright.PENANAhsqk3A8osZ
So now, I'm walking around my community in an attempt to exhaust myself, but it isn't working.525Please respect copyright.PENANAfnaXV2XL6Y
All of my senses are hyper aware of my environment. The silence is deafening; I might as well have someone screaming into my ear. I can feel every movement of the wind, every movement of the hairs on my body. I can smell the freshly cut grass of my neighbors's yards.525Please respect copyright.PENANALg6WyML7IT
Once I reach the playground of our community — a bunch of benches, monkey bars and a tree house — I sit on one of the benches, wrapping my arms around my knees and resting my head on them.525Please respect copyright.PENANAVCvxf3Mxl2
I feel tears forming in my eyes as the anger and frustration bubble up inside of me, threatening to overflow.525Please respect copyright.PENANA60IyaTWFSA
"I just want to sleep," I whisper to no one in particular. To be honest, I'm not quite sure why I say it out loud; perhaps I'm hoping that some supernatural being or force will hear it, will help me.525Please respect copyright.PENANA4mX3xiuGuL
As I stare into space, sitting on the bench, hugging myself, I realize that no one is coming to help me.525Please respect copyright.PENANAmRSIkxUzOC
Right now, I don't want to go back home. 525Please respect copyright.PENANA5PWjexlszJ
Going home would mean that I have to face my bed.525Please respect copyright.PENANA8qOgA1wdu0
Facing my bed would mean that I have to face the fact that I can't sleep.525Please respect copyright.PENANAOHe7APQnof
I would then be faced with staring blindly at my ceiling for a few more hours.525Please respect copyright.PENANAhVGqmDrYYz
The only problem is that I want to sleep.525Please respect copyright.PENANA9i3Sxabczd
I need to sleep.525Please respect copyright.PENANA8r6u6sb3uF
I have to try.525Please respect copyright.PENANAmB4CkHLcMo
With a heavy exhale, I plant my feet on the ground and stand prepared to go back home; however, something strange in my peripheral vision draws my attention to the tree house, which is in the corner of the playground.525Please respect copyright.PENANAtpIgxhkhzT
In the darkness of a moonless night, and from the angle at which I am standing, it appears as if something is hanging in front of the tree, but I can't see it's silhouette, as the branch from which it is hanging is extended towards me.525Please respect copyright.PENANAzpCLf3niYg
Out of curiosity, I approach the tree to see what it could be — probably just some shīt that the kids tied to the tree.525Please respect copyright.PENANAkTiE8OppIv
However, when I do reach it... when I do reach it, what I see sends tidal waves of shock and fear through my body and soul.525Please respect copyright.PENANAG4tWpIKvQg
I do a quadruple take to ensure that what I am seeing is correct, that my sleep deprived mind isn't playing tricks on me.525Please respect copyright.PENANA7Iik8if0iH
Hanging from the tree by a rope around his neck is a young black man, about twenty years old.525Please respect copyright.PENANABfpwbnfIJj
Appalled by the sight in front of me, I just stare.525Please respect copyright.PENANAsRE8QusgpB
Then, I start screaming.525Please respect copyright.PENANAfQh7Ke4igk