I was thinking at random. And was startled again when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I was so shocked, I almost jumped out of my chair. "Sit down my boy," said Mr. Rick Gowan, our school counselor. "Sander told me about you. He thinks you are in some great problem but you can't tell? I am here to help you."

I was so confused I was looking at Sandy in prodigious uncertainty. I was in doubt should I be angry with him for this incompetent interference or be grateful to him for seeking help for me! I was also looking at Mr. Rick Gowan in an inexplicit look. I was indecisive should I tell him everything or not. After all, he is a psychiatrist. If he thinks I am insane. I was in hesitation should I trust him. Mr. Rick observed everything. I think he understood my situation well. That's why he said, "Ok. You better go home now. We will come to your home in the afternoon ."

I came back home, had my lunch and tried to relax a little while watching tv in the hall room. I was thinking about how to deal with this meeting. Should I trust him and tell him everything? I really need help and he is extending his hands for me. It was almost sundown and I was mentally preparing myself how to tell all my experiences of this nightmare issue. I thought I should tell him in a manner so that he doesn't think I was going to be mad, after all, he was a psychiatrist. I took his offering help as a light in darkness.

I don't know when and how I fell asleep. I was locked in that darkroom as usual but this time, I don't know how, I could see a face. A girl with big green eyes like emeralds and her golden curls. And at the same time I heard a voice calling for help. Maybe from the adjacent room or far beyond. The girl was facing toward the sound but extending a hand toward me. I can hear the heavy footsteps and the banging door. I was short of breath in fear, panting, running in the room. I was struggling to find a way out, in vain. The heavy footsteps are coming closer and closer and the banging door. They will catch me! Suddenly, I bumped with someone, he was chained. "Help me Pit! Don't leave me alone!" I could recognize the voice it was Sandy. A shrill came out from my mouth but in vain my voice was mute. I was never so helpless in my little life!

Suddenly a flash of light and two faces upon me. I was trembling in terror someone was holding me and I was kicking and screaming to get rid of him. I was awakened to reality by a hard slap only then I found Mr. Rick and Sandy before me.

And at that very moment I saw my dad entering the room. I jumped out of the couch and found shelter in the bosom of my dad. I was crying so rigorously, dad was shocked to see me.

"You are going to be 15 tonight dear. you are a big boy, why are you crying like a baby? What happened Pit?" asked my dad.

"I thought you two were here to celebrate his birthday but it seems something is wrong. Can anybody tell me what's going on here?" he asked. "Where's Terry, Pit?"

But I was not in a state to say a word at that time. Dad was trying to soothe me by hugging and patting my shoulder. He looked at Mr. Gowan and Sandy helplessly for an answer.

"Well, I'm Rick Gowan. I'm the school counselor. And he's Sander, Pitter's friend" said Mr. Gowan extending his hand for a handshake.

Dad shook his hand and introduced himself "I'm Ben Johnson, his father."

"We actually didn't know about his birthday. We were here to help him to sort out his problems" continued Mr. Gowan. "We told him that we will come. We were pressing the calling bell, knocking the door, and calling him but no answer. We were anxious. At that time you came and gave us the keys. Otherwise we were thinking about breaking the door."

"Oh! I thought Pit had invited his friends to his birthday party." Dad said "I thought you were the father of this young man."

"No, I am the school counselor." said Mr. Gowan. "he has been troubled for a few days. Sander informed me that maybe he is facing a great problem and can't tell anybody. I met him at lunch break. He was looking dreadful. So I decided to help him."

"A counselor? Pit needs a counselor?'' Dad was alarmed.

He quickly arranged a sitting and also some snacks. I was almost calm and collected, in the meantime. I was sitting next to dad. Ok. Now tell me everything. Everyone was looking at me. I was feeling awkward. And dad perhaps understood that so he offered the snacks first. We all had some bugles and fritos followed by lemonades. When the snack party was over dad asked me what's the matter.

He said, "Tell everything in detail, don't be shy, don't hide anything."

So I did. Dad was alarmed "nightmare?"

"No. not again" groaned my dad.

"What do you mean by 'not again', it happened before?" asked Mr. Gowan.

"Yes, I have past experiences encountering such weird things. Anyways, those were not so good memories to recollect now. It's his birthday and I have come to celebrate." Said my dad.

"Pit my boy, I have a surprise for you." he produced a packet and handed it to me, "It's your birthday! Forget all these and get ready. We will rock tonight. Sandy, you go with him." dad said delightfully. As if nothing happened.

Sandy was shocked at his behavior. While we two got in my room, he said "don't mind, pit, but your dad is peculiar. Here you are suffering and he is celebrating!"

"And in the morning I will not see him again, he will just leave a sorry note for me and will promise that he will call me and come back soon." I told Sandy in a sad voice.

You know Sandy, all the time, l miss him, l love him yet I hate him. I said in a frail voice.

Sandy was sad for me. He could only hug me to soothe me.

Then slowly I opened the pack my dad gave me. a new shirt and denim jeans.

In the hall room dad and Mr Gowan were discussing.

"Mr. Jonson, I'm here to help your son. You have to tell me everything." said Mr. Gowan.

Mr. Rick Gwoan, he took it seriously. He said "Mr. Johnson please don't take it lightly. It's an alarming situation. It's not a mere nightmare. "

"Well I think he is suffering from a 'nightmare disorder' or you can call it 'dream anxiety disorder' in a normal sense, repeated nightmares. In this case he is having a series of nightmares with a recurring theme. And you have witnessed the condition he was battling with, all alone."

"Mr. Gowan, I know he is a kid but a strong one. I am sure he will fight back. Don't worry I will look into it tomorrow.' said dad.

"It is very normal you would say something like that Mr. Johnson. I would have been surprised if you had said something otherwise. If you would have understood, you couldn't leave him alone." said Mr. Gowan.

"Ok let me explain. Recurring nightmares can occur in adults' dreams too. In most cases the cause is excessive stress, frustration or any hidden incidents that he likes to ignore. It can also happen in a post-traumatic situation."

"Mr. Johnson please don't mind, but it's true Pit has got a broken family. What family? Fact is that he has no family. He is living alone. You are saying young adult but he is just a kid of 15. He is frustrated. He misses you. He misses his mother. He longs for a normal family. Maybe he thinks he is trapped in this situation. That's why he is dreaming himself locked in darkness and chased by some monster. He needs counseling."

"But I have a slight surmise about another plausibility too. As his recurring dreams are revealing more details every time. The banging door and the voice calling for help. This weird nature creates an uncertainty in my mind. It reminds me of ...of"

"of what? Asked dad "what are you muttering about Mr. Gowan?"

"Well, do you know about parapsychology, Mr. Johnson?" asked Mr. Gowan.

Mr. Gowan didn't wait for the answer any way, he declared "I think someone is sending him some messages through dreams. Have you ever heard of dream telepathy? "

"But why?" Dad asked "why do they target my boy? I don't understand."

"What are you talking about Mr. Jonson? you have to tell me maybe I can help Pitter." said Mr. Gowan.

Dad said, "Ah, Pit also had some weird experiences, last year he was getting signals from a dead man. There was a haphazard situation. Pit was hospitalized. I was about to lose him and now you are again talking about weird things like parapsychology and dream telepathy."

My bedroom was adjacent to the hall room. Sandy And I could listen to everything they were discussing. Upon dad's call we entered the hall room. Dad was not ready to hear something like that, I think. His mouth was opened and the hue of his face disappeared. And the reaction was more shocking, he held me tightly in his bosom, as if someone is going to snatch me anytime.

"Did you go anywhere in my absence, Pit? Any haunted castle like last time?" dad asked me. "And where's Terry? I told him not to leave you alone."

"He left two days ago. He said there's a ghost in this house and that's terrifying me. So he went to find a way. He said he will come back in the afternoon before I get back from school. But he didn't come back. You would never know how it feels alone in this house. It's a boring life. I missed you so much dad. Every night I miss you."

Dad thought I was going to be emotional again so hugged me tightly. And tried to soothe me by kissing my head. But it made me furious. I got out of his hands.

"Don't show me your affection. You don't love me at all. I don't have a mom. You don't stay with me. You said mom left me. You also leave me alone with Terry. I can't call you whenever I wish, you don't give me your number. You meet me once a month, always with a new number. And now you have come to celebrate my birthday! And you will leave early in the morning leaving a letter and some gifts for me as you did all these years. I just hate you."

I was so furious that I left the hall and went to the gallery. Dad was about to follow me. Mr. Gowan and Sandy were just watching everything. At this point Mr. Gowan speaks out.

"Mr. Johnson, please don't go now. I think Sander should go." said Mr. Gowan "I have some serious conversation with you. I just can't hold me back, you are treating your child very badly. I can understand your married life didn't work but Pitter should not suffer for that. You should not leave him alone like this with someone else who is not trustworthy at all. "

"Forget about the nightmares, he has developed several mental problems. Nobody likes him in the school, he is unsocial, he has no friends, and he can't trust anybody. He is saying his life is boring at this early stage of life. This is so frustrating Mr. Johnson. The lifestyle he is leading does not suit a child of his age."

"Now I am thinking I must sit with you first and I am serious Mr. Johnson. I am really worried about the kid's future. You are the only parent and you don't look after him."

Me and Sandy were listening to everything as the gallery was adjacent to the hall room. And was curiously waiting for my dad's answer. I wanted to know why my dad does not stay with me. Sandy was not saying a word the whole time he was just sitting beside me.

"Mr. Gowan, you are thinking totally wrong. I love Pitter...I do love him. He is my only child. I can't keep him with me for the sake of his safety. I always taught him not to believe anybody that's also for his safety. It's my fear that prevents me from keeping him with me." said my dad.

"what? What kind of a fear is that keeps you away from your only child? I hope you are not doing anything illegal?" asked Mr. Gowan.

"No, not at all." Dad protested. "Currently I am jobless. I quit the job I had last week. I will find a new one, very soon. its Pit's safety. I can't keep him with me. They are after me!

"If I keep him with me, they will know him and they will be after him. I I can't reveal his presence to them." dad continued.

"What the hell are you talking about! Are you crazy! Who are after you?" asked Mr. Gowan.

But dad seems didn't hear him. He continued, "And I do not leave him alone. Terry may be a little dumb headed but he is trustworthy. My son is in safe hand."

"Then where he is now. He left a terrified child alone. He also have broken his promise of coming back before Pitter is back from his school. It's two days, he is not here. Do you still think he is trustworthy? " asked Mr. Gowan.

"Yes I do." Dad answered "He will not come back until he will finish the task. And I am sure he will come tonight before twelve. He can't miss his Pit's birthday.

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