I woke in a sweat, my clothes soaked, my heart pumping, my anxiety levels higher than they should have been.

Ahead of me was the glow of the opening. I couldn’t decide if it was an opening or a closing. How had I got here?

My feet were bare, I could feel them standing in some sort of slime which was circling both of them, the ooze gently engulfing them and as I was not able to move the sensation was quietly comforting.

Behind me, a voice was calling out instructions. “Please move forward. There is nothing to fear. Step into the light, now!”

So forceful was the voice I could feel the words nudging me in the back and all the while my brain was working overtime trying to decide if this was real or not.

In taking a step, I felt the slime grab my foot as if wanting me to stay rigid, stuck to the one spot, but I was feeling the compunction to move towards the light and the doorway.

The light was inviting, anything, my mind said, to be out of the darkness, it couldn’t be any worse than what I was feeling there and then.

That was when the real struggle began. Each step was laboured, excruciatingly slow the doorway came closer and more and more the slime grabbed at my feet, reluctant to let go its hold.

All the while I was receiving the voice behind me which was urging me on, cheering almost as I neared the doorway.

The light was at its most intense as I reached the opening, it was blinding but soothing at the same time.

I felt a hand take mine, and a voice say, “Come, join in the fun.”

Written for: https://athling2001.wordpress.com/2018/09/11/response-jsw-prompt-8-27-2018/