It's cold. I try to open my freezing eyelids. As I begin to open them I see many reflections of myself looking back at me through mirrors. The mirrors were trimmed with gold and were adorned with intricate designs in the frame. Each reflection seems to be the same yet not at the same time. As I walk closer they all shatter before me. The floor beneath me disappears and I begin free-falling. 

I jumped up drenched in a cold sweat, trying to calm my beating heart. I reach to grab my glasses from the nightstand as I collect myself. When my vision clears the details of my vivid dream start to sink in. 'What could all of that mean? It seemed a little too real.' I look over at my alarm clock, shocked at the time as it's only 4:30 in the morning. Being entirely too early to start my day I decided to go for a run in order to clear my head. Opening up my window blinds I'm slightly disappointed not to see the sun shining in my face as there usually is when I wake up. I changed into more suitable clothing than the basketball shorts and my bare chest. Making my way to the bathroom I decided to just put on some black joggers and a white t-shirt. Splashing water in my face I look in the mirror to see a young adult man with wet dark brown hair, calm-looking hazel eyes and teeth as white as snow. Just your average joe but I guess anything is better than looking like an ogre. I make sure to grab my house keys and phone then head out the front door. 

Not really having a goal in mind I decided to just run and let my mind roam. As I passed the lampposts I felt a sense of liberation that I had always felt whenever I ran. No matter how stressed out or confused I was, running would always help me clear my chaotic mind. The continuous sound of my beating heart leads me to begin getting lost in an imaginative sensation, feeling like nothing else matters in the world. Sadly, I'm interrupted by the vibration of my phone. Looking at the ID I decisively decline the call. 'I really can't deal with her today.' My mom and I always had a strained relationship and it only got worse when I came out. It went from physical abuse to psychological warfare. My guess is she didn't want to sully her hands with my homosexual filth. It continued like that until I eventually graduated high school and booked it out of her decrepit house. Mood ruined, I headed back home to find a cardboard box in front of my door.