Jesse

The creature turned and looked at me. It didn’t say anything, but it was still staring at me.

I knew it was going to say my name. This was obvious from the way it was staring at me.

My mind was spinning, wondering what I might face when I was in there. Everyone had dealt with their version of hell. I was going to have to do the same.

The creature still hadn’t spoken, and somehow, that made it worse. Like it was giving me time to unravel myself before it even opened its mouth.

But bravery felt like a joke when your name was about to be carved...