Keep the Light ON

"Keep the light on."1

Michael had been having bad dreams and they just kept on reoccurring. He thought he saw figures in the night and people whispering softly in his room in the dark. But when he turned the light on bravely, nothing was to be seen. He knew and hoped nothing would be there but every time he turned it on, he was startled by nothing. Every night, he had asked for the light to stay on, so the people wouldn't come to him. And every time, his mom would tell him that big boys have the light off. It wasn't that the voices were harsh, they were actually friendly, but hearing voices isn't good, especially whispers.2

"Honey, you need to be a big boy and keep the light off. You won't sleep well if you have it on all night."His mother had said just before she tucked him in and shut his bedroom door. He wouldn't disobey his mother and he knew she was wrong. He knew he'd actually sleep better; he'd been having lack of sleep from this problem, but he wouldn't tell his parents.3

He came up with a plan, a rather clever one he thought. He would listen to what the voices would say so maybe he wouldn't be so afraid anymore. The voices started coming and he started to shake. "No, I have to be brave Michael."he told himself, reassuring that he would be okay. But this time, a new voice came, it sounded more evil. He sucked it all in and listened carefully.4

"This child needs to be handled. He is not my responsibility anymore."one whisper said to another.5

"However, I believe we have someone new. I know he has his times but he needs to be here before the child is, you know."the other whisper answered back.6

Michael gasped and realized it right away and cover his hands over his mouth. He could sense that they noticed and he knew this was the time to be scared.7

"What was that? Don't tell me, this kid has the nerve to listen, how rude."the evil whisper fumed and went right up to the side of the bed. 8

Michael didn't dare to take off the sheet that he had covering his face and body. Unable to resist from letting go, the sheets were pulled off enough so he could see. The spirit jammed it's face into his and said loudly, "It's rude to listen into people's conversations!" He didn't listen, he was too scared and frightened. The spirit's face was slim and had dark eyes with a foul look on his face. His voice sounded low and demanding. All Michael could do was manage a soft sorry and retreated back under his sheets.9

Michael could now hear it going back to the others and said a quick good-bye and to be ready for the death. They disappeared and he didn't hear anything else for the rest of the night. It was good but he knew he had to worry about the last line that the spirit said to the others. The word "death" kept repeating in his head like a recorder stuck on the repeat button. "They had to be talking about me right?"Michael thought softly in his head. 10

The next morning his head started hurting badly. He took some pain killers and went off for school. Throughout the day he kept thinking of the way he'd die. They had said it was soon, but how soon? 11

Within the next couple of weeks, the voices no longer returned and he started wondering if they had waited for him to listen. But one night when he knew they had to be gone, they returned one last time. He listened in closely. They didn't seem to mind this time that he listened. 12

"Remember it's all in the eyes; as to how he'll die."13

They softly said yes and disappeared into the night. The next morning he ran straight for the mirror. He looked at his eyes. It was weird, his pupil's looked bigger than usual. Maybe it was because of the lighting. Right away his head started throbbing intensely. Since the last time the whispers ended, his head kept throbbing. His mom was worried and had taken him in, but the doctors said nothing. 14

A couple of days later he had collapsed at school because the pain got too intense. Mr.Davis, his teacher, rushed up to him and told someone to call the nurse. The nurse then called the paramedics and he was sent to the E.R. They questioned the teacher and of course, he knew nothing except for Michael saying he had a pain in his head and he had to go to the nurse. The doctors went from there and did a scan of his brain, since the pain was in his head. 15

What they found was displeasing, a tumor in his brain. It was small and preventable from spreading. It was now forming and they would rid of it right away. They told his parents and they agreed with the doctors one hundred percent. 16

The surgery was intense but a success. They would have to watch over him closely from now on. A couple of days later, he was released. The voices were gone but he wondered about the death part they mentioned. He wondered if he would die soon. His angels had been watching over him in his time of need. Those whispers now angels. But several years passed and he ended up dying from the returning tumor. His angels wanted to keep him on Earth a little longer. A little longer for the people around him. To teach the world a small lesson.17