u/Sea_Marionberry8773

I thought that the profound sadness that engulfed me upon the loss of my beloved would be the worst of it. Lost in my melancholy, I found myself sleeping increasingly more as the lack of consciousness acted as an escape from the feelings of loss. What I did not expect, however, were the dreams. They were all the same, I would awake in a half lucid state from within my bed, and there standing in the corner of my room would stand a dark figure. A crushing weight befell upon my chest, and my body would fail to move or speak, there was always just that shadowy shape looming in the corner. Then I would wake in a cold state of sweat with an overwhelming feeling that there was a sense of malice in the air. Each night was the same. It had troubled me so much that I had begun to avoid the act of sleep altogether, save for when I could no longer fend off the tiredness would I finally succumb and close my eyes.

It was after a fortnight of this that the dreams started to change. As I laid there watching the shadow as helpless as a beast of prey, I noticed the subtle difference. It began with what I thought was the sound of soft breathing. Then shadows began to recede slowly revealing the soft features of my wife. She was pale, paler than she was in life, and took on an almost completely transparent figure. At first, I could hardly discern it was her, but there was no mistaking those eyes and that raven hair that had stolen my heart. Just as soon as I had come to the realization,  I awoke again in that same cold sweat as usual. Each night her ethereal figure seemed to gain more form. No longer was I haunted by these dreams, instead I found myself sleeping more frequently and in longer durations just to see my beloved again. 

As the days and nights went by, her form became more whole and she would take a single step toward my still motionless self in the bed. The entire time her beautiful eyes remained fixed on me. What was once torment from the shadowy figure turned to a deep obsession to be reunited with the love of my life. I found myself even napping throughout the day just to dream of her. I had stopped working, or even caring for myself. My hair grew long and loose on my head. I had become emaciated. Nothing else mattered anymore, soon she would be close enough to touch me again just one more time. The excitement of it could barely allow me to close my eyes despite the overwhelming exhaustion that overtook me these days.

On that final night, it began as it usually did, except something was off. When last I had left her she was reaching out her hand outstretched almost caressing my cheek, and a soft smile on her face. This time was different. She stood over me, eyes fixated and expression twisted into a horrid look of anger. She bore her teeth as if she were a wolf ready to pounce. I was still helpless to move or speak, as if a crushing weight were on my chest. I tried to call out to her, but to no avail. Then I noticed the knife in her hand. She wielded it high above her head, Her breathing quickened, there was also the sound of panting. It was almost as if she was excited, but her eyes showed pure hatred. I closed my eyes as she plunged the knife downward toward my chest. I felt a white hot excruciating pain in my sternum. I screamed and opened my eyes, and screamed again when I saw what lay before me. A small hairy figure lay dead on my chest, and its circular mouth with teeth inlaid with teeth lay just inches from my neck. I finally had the ability to move and pushed the corpse of the surprisingly heavy creature off me onto the floor. My wife stood there expressionless, but then her gaze met mine and her face softened. She leaned over and gave me a kiss. I awoke this time in the early morning with the sunrays on my face. It felt as if the weight had literally been lifted from my chest.