My girlfriend talks in her sleep. She's been saying the most horrible things recently...

I’m infatuated with her. <br><br>Utterly infatuated. <br><br>And it wasn’t at a healthy level. <br><br>The very moment my ex left me, I dove headfirst into dating again. And the very first woman I met was Ellen. I was still half-buried in a grave of misery and self-loathing, and she would be the only woman to drag me out of it, dust me off, and put food in my mouth. And for that I was eternally grateful. <br><br>Ellen was beautiful. Almost otherworldly so. Long legs and curves that seemed impossible; as if Belle caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and then refused to leave until she was *perfect.* And of course… her eyes. Those wondrous, bright green orbs that held me captive and refused to let go. <br><br>And she was nice. *So* nice. The first time we went out together, it was to a Chinese place. I was on autopilot for the better part of our date; she was too kind to call me on it but I could tell she was a little confused. When we sat down to eat, she noticed my continued silence and asked me what was wrong. I told her about my ex and thanked her for being patient. <br><br>She was so sweet about it. <br><br>“Give me time,” she said, with a smile. “And I’ll make you forget all about her.” <br><br>It was a bold claim, and one I didn’t think she could live up to. But she did. <br><br>Less than a week later, I was head over heels in love with Ellen. I couldn’t stop thinking about her, and she seemed to be the answer to every single problem in my life. <br><br>I did everything I could to make her happy. <br><br>I did everything she told me to do. <br><br>And of course, that includes this. <br><br>My mom called me three nights ago, in a frantic panic. <br><br>“Hi, honey,” she said immediately, her voice wobbling with barely-held-back tears. “How are you doing?”<br><br>I was a bit perplexed. I’d just finished a long day at work, and Ellen and I had just settled in for the night. <br><br>“I… I’m good,” I replied slowly. “I’m about to go to bed, actually. But I’m doing fine, I guess. Why are you asking?”<br><br>There was a long pause on the other end. I could almost hear her jaw working in an effort to hold back tears. <br><br>“Listen,” she said finally. “You need to know the truth.” <br><br>I frowned. <br><br>“What are you talking about?” I asked. <br><br>There was a pause again. <br><br>“I know you’re going to hate me for not telling you sooner,” she said. “I didn’t want to do it. But you have to know. Ellen is not who you think she is.” <br><br>I was taken aback, even if I really shouldn’t have been. <br><br>“What… what do you mean?”<br><br>“I saw her step out yesterday,” my mom said, her voice cracking. “And she wasn’t… she wasn’t herself.” <br><br>I felt my heart begin to pound in alarm. <br><br>“What do you mean?” I asked again. <br><br>There was a long pause. And I knew she was just bracing herself for the impact, because she knew that Ellen would do *anything* to keep me from knowing the truth. <br><br>“She… she wasn’t human,” my mom said finally. <br><br>“Oh,” I said slowly. <br><br>“She… she wasn’t human,” my mom repeated. “She was tall, and thin, and flat. And her face was… was… there was no face. But she was looking right at me. And I… I knew it was her.” <br><br>I nodded slowly. <br><br>“I think you’re just misinterpreting things,” I said. <br><br>“*She has no face!*”<br><br>“Ellen has a face, mom.” <br><br>“Listen,” my mom snapped, her voice rising. “You need to know the truth. She’s not human. And she’s not a person. You’re in a lot of danger.” <br><br>I scoffed. <br><br>“You’re being dramatic,” I said. <br><br>“Please,” my mom said. “You… you need to hear this. You *need* to know the truth.” <br><br>“Okay,” I said slowly. “But I think you’re making a mistake.” <br><br>“I’m not,” my mom said. “Ellen is… Ellen is not a real person. She’s Cimmerian.” <br><br>“Okay,” I said. <br><br>“She’s… she’s evil,” my mom said. “She’s taking advantage of you.” <br><br>I bristled at this immediately. <br><br>“She’s not,” I snapped. <br><br>“She… she *is.*” My mom countered immediately. “H… how can you look at me and tell me that you’re okay? You… you’re so different now.” <br><br>“What do you mean?” I asked. <br><br>“You… you’re not my son,” my mom said. <br><br>“Of course I am,” I said. <br><br>“No,” my mom said. “Because my son would never do the things you’ve done.” <br><br>“*What?*” I asked. <br><br>“You… you have no idea what she’s done to you,” my mom whispered. <br><br>“I… I think I do.” <br><br>“No,” my mom said. “I caught her one day. I took your phone, and I listened to the messages she sent you. Do you know how *embarrassed* I was when I heard those? You’re… you’re my son, for crying out loud!” <br><br>“Don’t look at those,” I snapped. <br><br>“*Why not?!* Your poor father-”<br><br>“*No.*” I said, my voice rising. “You don’t get to talk about that.” <br><br>There was a pause. <br><br>“Fine,” my mom said. “I’ll drop it. But… but I need you to do something for me.” <br><br>“Okay,” I said. <br><br>“When Ellen’s asleep… I need you to listen to what she says.” <br><br>I nodded. <br><br>“Okay,” I said. <br><br>“Thank you,” my mom said. <br><br>“Sure.” <br><br>“Goodnight,” my mom said. “Be safe.” <br><br>“You too,” I said. <br><br>“Goodnight,” my mom said again. <br><br>“Goodnight,” I said again. <br><br>Then I hung up and listened to the rest of Ellen’s words. <br><br>She was saying them in her sleep. She’d been doing it a lot lately. And I’d gotten used to them, almost to the point where I didn’t notice them anymore. <br><br>*You’re mine now.* *I’ll never let you go.* *And if I ever do, don’t worry. I’ll come back for you.* *Forever and always.*<br><br>I smiled, and reached over to pet her soft, flowing hair. <br><br>“Goodnight,” I said. <br><br>“Goodnight.”