A Frail State of Mind
By Nicollete Arango
By Nicollete Arango
A long silver blade lunged into his torso, a deep crimson red trickles down the dagger. The deafening sound of the crackling thunder roared down as the restless tide only grew more abundant. Each series of plunging waves grew stronger, like sharp blades that could pierce a ship's hull with a single sweep. They clashed down to the boulders placed alongside the shoreline causing heavy rumbling noises. Her head jolted up, darting around the empty room a ringing screech filled the air, seemingly louder than the roaring thunder outside. She had finally awoken from her deep slumber, with drops of sweat trickling down her face, her heart pounding, her palms soaking with sweat, she trembled in absolute fear. Ophelia had recurring dreams of the same event over and over, a never-ending cycle of drowning in agony. Every night would be the same nightmare. The sight of the knife plunging into his chest, the blood pouring down the blade. A deep scarlet viscous liquid flowed down her arm whilst the warmth of the blood made it all the more traumatic.
A long silver blade lunged into his torso, a deep crimson red trickles down the dagger. The deafening sound of the crackling thunder roared down as the restless tide only grew more abundant. Each series of plunging waves grew stronger, like sharp blades that could pierce a ship's hull with a single sweep. They clashed down to the boulders placed alongside the shoreline causing heavy rumbling noises. Her head jolted up, darting around the empty room a ringing screech filled the air, seemingly louder than the roaring thunder outside. She had finally awoken from her deep slumber, with drops of sweat trickling down her face, her heart pounding, her palms soaking with sweat, she trembled in absolute fear. Ophelia had recurring dreams of the same event over and over, a never-ending cycle of drowning in agony. Every night would be the same nightmare. The sight of the knife plunging into his chest, the blood pouring down the blade. A deep scarlet viscous liquid flowed down her arm whilst the warmth of the blood made it all the more traumatic.
The creaks of the floorboards were barely audible due to the raging storm outside. As she took her first step onto the cold hardwood floor, a shiver passed through her body. The window rattled followed by constant tapping caused by the excessive rain. The sweat, still dripping down her body, left an imprint on the floorboard with each step she took. Although the unnerving and bickering storm still bustled, she felt a sense of serenity overwhelm her. Constant noise was more pleasant than an unsettling hollow silence. Although the paranoia still loomed through her, a constant sensation of anxiety, she couldn’t let this overbearing feeling daunt over her forever. While the rain now faded to white noise, she prepared herself for her day to day tasks.
The creaks of the floorboards were barely audible due to the raging storm outside. As she took her first step onto the cold hardwood floor, a shiver passed through her body. The window rattled followed by constant tapping caused by the excessive rain. The sweat, still dripping down her body, left an imprint on the floorboard with each step she took. Although the unnerving and bickering storm still bustled, she felt a sense of serenity overwhelm her. Constant noise was more pleasant than an unsettling hollow silence. Although the paranoia still loomed through her, a constant sensation of anxiety, she couldn’t let this overbearing feeling daunt over her forever. While the rain now faded to white noise, she prepared herself for her day to day tasks.
Clicks and taps echoed around the empty room as Ophelia rapidly typed away at her story. Engulfed in her work, the now ever-present thunderstorm could no longer be heard. She began to be immersed in her writing, no longer aware of her surroundings. The worn-out typewriter provided her with a calm state of mind which in turn helped her cope with her underlying fear and paranoia. Although she seemed to be mindlessly typing, she began to envelope herself deep in thought. However, without warning, all her cognitive functions seemed to cease. All she could sense now was a foreboding gaze burning into the back of her skull. The somewhat hypnotic gaze overwhelmed her with unease. With her whole body frozen in place, she struggled to muster up the courage to look back. Ophelia, in pure dread, began to slowly turn her head. Each movement of her head was slower than the other with the anticipation being all the more daunting. Her breathing staggered, feeling as if her lungs were collapsing. The sight now being in line with her peripheral vision while her pupils dilated. All she saw was an empty room; nothing had changed from what it had been before. An eerie chill filled the room followed by an ear-ringing silence.
Clicks and taps echoed around the empty room as Ophelia rapidly typed away at her story. Engulfed in her work, the now ever-present thunderstorm could no longer be heard. She began to be immersed in her writing, no longer aware of her surroundings. The worn-out typewriter provided her with a calm state of mind which in turn helped her cope with her underlying fear and paranoia. Although she seemed to be mindlessly typing, she began to envelope herself deep in thought. However, without warning, all her cognitive functions seemed to cease. All she could sense now was a foreboding gaze burning into the back of her skull. The somewhat hypnotic gaze overwhelmed her with unease. With her whole body frozen in place, she struggled to muster up the courage to look back. Ophelia, in pure dread, began to slowly turn her head. Each movement of her head was slower than the other with the anticipation being all the more daunting. Her breathing staggered, feeling as if her lungs were collapsing. The sight now being in line with her peripheral vision while her pupils dilated. All she saw was an empty room; nothing had changed from what it had been before. An eerie chill filled the room followed by an ear-ringing silence.
As the day continued the ominous presence grew all the more present. The sinister gaze never seemed to wither away while the intensity made her skin crawl. Although at times Ophelia seemed paralyzed by it, she couldn’t let it overtake her. Having already dealt with problems in the past, an insatiable and constant paranoia that enveloped her life for years had practically broken her down. However, this sensation felt much more hostile and malicious compared to what she had experienced before. It felt as if there was a strong pressure that weighed down her chest which troubled her breathing as her lungs could collapse at any moment. For the most part, her head spun and she was unable to focus her vision as if she was on the brink of passing out. She feared that this feeling would result in her fainting, but the thought of having to witness the nightmare was more frightening. With sleep being a necessity, she had been forced to sleep at least every other day due to exhaustion. Ultimately this had led her to become brittle and fragile, like a diamond, seemingly being the hardest mineral but still able to be chipped away if hit at the right angle.
As the day continued the ominous presence grew all the more present. The sinister gaze never seemed to wither away while the intensity made her skin crawl. Although at times Ophelia seemed paralyzed by it, she couldn’t let it overtake her. Having already dealt with problems in the past, an insatiable and constant paranoia that enveloped her life for years had practically broken her down. However, this sensation felt much more hostile and malicious compared to what she had experienced before. It felt as if there was a strong pressure that weighed down her chest which troubled her breathing as her lungs could collapse at any moment. For the most part, her head spun and she was unable to focus her vision as if she was on the brink of passing out. She feared that this feeling would result in her fainting, but the thought of having to witness the nightmare was more frightening. With sleep being a necessity, she had been forced to sleep at least every other day due to exhaustion. Ultimately this had led her to become brittle and fragile, like a diamond, seemingly being the hardest mineral but still able to be chipped away if hit at the right angle.
She restlessly lay on her stiff mattress, her head rested on the broken wooden headboard while her eyes wandered around the cracks in the ceiling. A few droplets dripped through a crack, creating a small puddle further damaging the hardwood floor. The thunderstorm seemed to have calmed, now only light rain tapped on the window. For only a moment, it appeared as if there was an appeasing sense in the air. Taken off guard, a series of footsteps echoed throughout the hallway directly in front of the door. Each stride only picked up the pace, rapidly increasing the rate to which it would encounter the door. While she was paralyzed by fear, each droplet dripping from the crack started mimicking the pattern of the tread. Suddenly it all came to a halt, the drops stopped whilst the steps ceased. Were the footsteps she heard merely hallucinations due to sleep deprivation or a troublesome reality? On the brink of a mental collapse, strange noises continued to echo within her house as she internally agonized. Constant tapping, knocking, and steps continued until dusk.
She restlessly lay on her stiff mattress, her head rested on the broken wooden headboard while her eyes wandered around the cracks in the ceiling. A few droplets dripped through a crack, creating a small puddle further damaging the hardwood floor. The thunderstorm seemed to have calmed, now only light rain tapped on the window. For only a moment, it appeared as if there was an appeasing sense in the air. Taken off guard, a series of footsteps echoed throughout the hallway directly in front of the door. Each stride only picked up the pace, rapidly increasing the rate to which it would encounter the door. While she was paralyzed by fear, each droplet dripping from the crack started mimicking the pattern of the tread. Suddenly it all came to a halt, the drops stopped whilst the steps ceased. Were the footsteps she heard merely hallucinations due to sleep deprivation or a troublesome reality? On the brink of a mental collapse, strange noises continued to echo within her house as she internally agonized. Constant tapping, knocking, and steps continued until dusk.
As the sun sets creating a rift between night and day, similar to her rift from sanity to insanity. With her overwhelming fear of being watched as well as the fact she can no longer grasp reality, Ophelia started to drown in torment. She began to spiral into madness, haphazardly she stumbled across the cold hardwood floor towards her library. Tripping over herself, she made her way to the antique bookshelf and dispiritedly grasped onto the spine of a book and flung it across the office as the pages flapped like dying birds. She scurried alongside the wall, leaning on it for support, and reached towards her typewriter. As she ripped the paper from her typewriter she grabbed the stack beside it and with a swift motion, threw them in the air defeatedly. Papers hypnotically falling to the ground, a man-like figure appeared, but soon after was gone in an instant. Her whole body stiffens, while she becomes lightheaded. A sudden flash of light appears as her pupils dilate, a deafening ring follows as it all turns to black.
As the sun sets creating a rift between night and day, similar to her rift from sanity to insanity. With her overwhelming fear of being watched as well as the fact she can no longer grasp reality, Ophelia started to drown in torment. She began to spiral into madness, haphazardly she stumbled across the cold hardwood floor towards her library. Tripping over herself, she made her way to the antique bookshelf and dispiritedly grasped onto the spine of a book and flung it across the office as the pages flapped like dying birds. She scurried alongside the wall, leaning on it for support, and reached towards her typewriter. As she ripped the paper from her typewriter she grabbed the stack beside it and with a swift motion, threw them in the air defeatedly. Papers hypnotically falling to the ground, a man-like figure appeared, but soon after was gone in an instant. Her whole body stiffens, while she becomes lightheaded. A sudden flash of light appears as her pupils dilate, a deafening ring follows as it all turns to black.
She lay in a somber abyss. Her eyes widened, she recognized the familiar location, it was the horrid nightmare she experienced many times before. However, her consciousness still seemed to remain intact within her nightmare for the first time. The previous experiences had constrained her freewill which led her to succumb to misery. Eyes darting down, she realized that a silver blade lay in the palm of her hand. The exact dagger she had plunged into a man’s body, resulting in his death which led to the end of the dream. Footsteps came into hearing range, as the figure of the man appeared in front of her. His face had still been unidentifiable, but his gaze was still sorrowful. With free will finally bestowed to her, she was given the choice. The two options allowed her to express her control over her livelihood.
She lay in a somber abyss. Her eyes widened, she recognized the familiar location, it was the horrid nightmare she experienced many times before. However, her consciousness still seemed to remain intact within her nightmare for the first time. The previous experiences had constrained her freewill which led her to succumb to misery. Eyes darting down, she realized that a silver blade lay in the palm of her hand. The exact dagger she had plunged into a man’s body, resulting in his death which led to the end of the dream. Footsteps came into hearing range, as the figure of the man appeared in front of her. His face had still been unidentifiable, but his gaze was still sorrowful. With free will finally bestowed to her, she was given the choice. The two options allowed her to express her control over her livelihood.
The clink of the blade hitting the floor echoed throughout the hollow and desolate abyss, but once it was heard a feeling of warmth and serenity enveloped Ophelia with a feeling of blissful joy. The once dark abyss had turned into a welcoming scenery illuminating her once sorrowful life. She had finally beaten what she had been struggling with for her entire life. Her mental state no longer had resembled a double-edged knife which would only inflict pain more than guide her to conquer her inner demons.
The clink of the blade hitting the floor echoed throughout the hollow and desolate abyss, but once it was heard a feeling of warmth and serenity enveloped Ophelia with a feeling of blissful joy. The once dark abyss had turned into a welcoming scenery illuminating her once sorrowful life. She had finally beaten what she had been struggling with for her entire life. Her mental state no longer had resembled a double-edged knife which would only inflict pain more than guide her to conquer her inner demons.