Nightmares

About 9 years old was the child when nightmare first they dreamed. For many years this nightmare would often try her courage to subdue, but now her sleep is silent. During the day she'd often play with her dog, Whiskers. Now this dog once bit her dad to protect her when she screamed, but that's another story. The dog had proved to her ever loyal. Her dream that night began just like every other. She was in the yard skipping rope, Whiskers right beside her. Suddenly the urge was great to climb the tallest tree, something she had never before even dreamed of doing. She must have sensed her dog grow tense alerting her to danger. She scurried to the top and when she sat she saw the reason for the fright. From this tree she could see house and barn and yard. And a man she'd never met before, tall and strong in stature. His boot and step testified to his authority. But the look on his face spoke volumes more; it displayed a sickening thing, Doing harm brought him intense pleasure. He searched her home, and inside each farm building. She knew that she would soon be found when she learned all his tactics. Every blade of grass he turned and every bush he circled. When this man approached her tree, her dog went on defensive. Whiskers' voice rang out a snarling growl, his teeth were clearly seen. His task was to protect this child, otherwise he was NEVER mean. The man then stood beneath her tree, her loyal friend neutralized. Immediately she saw his chin turn upward, and SNAP she opened up her eyes. This nightmare flashed through her mind gave rise to restless sleep until age twenty-seven. As she moved geographically, her dream would change to match. But some elements were ever constant: hiding from the man of authority, the EXTREMELY methodical search, waking up when... discovery is inevitable. Now there's many nights when she sleeps very little, or not at all. But when she does, she finds her slumber silent. She'll be forty next month, something that brings on deep reflection. The nightmare has come to mind from time to time during daylight hours of silent nights. Now she'll purge it from her system. She just wishes one answer could be had, a loud, resounding WHY.