I woke up in a daze, wondering why my alarm clock didn't go off. I slowly checked my phone and realized I had exactly three minutes before the alarm went off. I smiled to myself and wrapped up in my blanket, happy to have extra three minutes.

I had my morning routine down to a minute and every morning just before I left the apartment I would take a look at myself in the grand mirror and give myself a thumbs up. When I was growing up I was battling with self image and anxiety and my mom told me I have to give myself a thumbs up every morning so you can start a day off on a good vibe, even if no one else thinks so. What you do and you think, it's more important than anyone else in your life. It's become sort of a ritual for me, even after I've grown up.

Ever since the new boss started working at my office, I have been dreading work. He was extremely blunt and impolite. He also had an idea that every morning a girl has to bring him coffee and ever since I pointed out how sexist that is, I have become his whipping girl. If anything in the office went wrong it was my fault, if anyone had problems, I was the one who had to solve them. I was getting really tired of everything and was contemplating either reporting him to human resources or just quit and look for a new job.

I was well liked at my job, because I was a hard worker, but no one stood up for me to the new boss, mostly because the last time someone stood up to him, it was me. Not like anyone is volunteering to be the whipping boy. As soon as the boss came to work he asked for his coffee and I deliberately started working on data entry, looking very busy and not paying attention to anything but my computer.

"Alicia, where is my coffee?" He suddenly appeared at my cubicle.

"I don't know sir, in the kitchen?" I answered as politely as I could while gritting my teeth.

"You know I don't like that coffee. I want the special blend they have at the cafe across the street." He was expecting me to jump up and offer to go get it. I did not oblige.

"You should ask if anyone else wants that coffee." He said after a minute.

"I'm a bit busy at the moment," I answered. But others quickly chimed in how they would appreciate a cup of special blend.

"You know you could always go get it," I said to Martha, who was apparently dreaming about a good cup of coffee since early morning, but my boss quickly said:

"Everyone is so busy, Alicia. I'm sure you can take a few minutes and go get us coffee. I mean data entry can wait."

His smile made me sick. I got up without a word and left the building. I hated that stupid boss and I was really starting to hate the coworkers. Luckily the cafe knew me by sight by now so as soon as they saw me walking down the street they started preparing the large order. I took it, thanked them and asked them to send the receipt to the office.

I was waiting for the green light to cross the street when I heard cars driving way too fast for downtown. Police sirens joined the chorus of noise and I instinctively took a few steps back, just to make sure and avoid cars. I was right to step back because a car came driving out of nowhere and ran across the pedestrian crossing and the sidewalk, right where I was standing, just moments before. Absolutely terrified I backed away until my back hit the building and I still didn't feel safe. That's when several cars came racing down the street with at least four police cars following them. I looked in shock when I saw one of the leading cars had a gun out of the window and was shooting behind him at the other cars.

I heard shots fired. I don't know why, but I closed my eyes and prayed. Coffee holder that I was holding in my arms was knocked down by a gust of wind and I felt pain in my side. I looked down and saw blood pooling, but there was no pain. I still heard shots but I wasn't paying attention to that. I slid down the wall because my legs felt weak. My breathing got heavy and I could feel my heart beating slower and slower. I'm dying. I'm really really dying.

I woke up drenched in sweat. What the fuck is going on… I whispered to myself and looked around. I was in my bed, in my bedroom. I looked at the phone and it was two minutes until my alarm went off. I stared at my phone until it went off wondering what happened. Was it all just an elaborate dream? Did it actually happen? Am I in a Final destination movie? I was listening to my alarm, quietly sobbing in bed.

I finally got ready and went to work. I was in complete daze and was quite late by the time I arrived. My boss was pissed at me so much he never asked for coffee, just yelled about how I'm disrespectful and that my work performance has been on a steady decline. That's when we heard the police sirens. I ignored him and walked to the window. I watched the procession of cars driving past the coffee shop and our building, the police sirens and finally gunshots. I stared as people screamed, and I knew. Whether it was a dream or it actually happened… I died. But I'm alive now. I started crying in the boss's office and crumpled on the floor.

I was allowed to go home early due to my freak up. I drove slowly, walked slowly and overall was super careful while going home. As I walked in my apartment I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. I stared in shock as my reflection had a bloody gaping wound on her side. Exactly where I was shot the day before. I turned around, walked out and sat on the floor. That's where my neighbour Bill found me.

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"You ok darling?" He said with his southern accent and a smile. I nodded, pushed myself up and walked away. He followed me, asking if I'm ok, and that I seemed upset. I ignored him and started walking downstairs. That's when I felt a push on my back and I missed a step. I fell down the stairs, hit the railing and blacked out.

I woke up. And screamed. I screamed until the phone alarm went off. Then I huddled under the blanket and stayed there. I'm not going to work, or leaving the apartment. I'm just going to stay in bed and survive the day. I stayed under the blanket until the phone started ringing. My coworkers were calling me. I went to the window, opened it and threw the phone out of it. As I was walking back to the bed I caught a glimpse of me in the mirror. I did not look like myself. There was still a gunshot wound in my side, but now there was more. My neck was broken, there was a big gashing wound on my temple and one of my legs was all wrong. I stared and walked closer to the mirror but the reflection did not move. It just stood there watching me while I was staring at it with dread and horror.

I stayed there and watched my reflection for what seemed like hours. I touched the mirror but the reflection didn't touch back. It just stood there. I couldn't do this anymore. I got dressed and went outside. There was a park not far from the apartment complex and I went there to sit in the sun and enjoy the warmth. I sat on a bench, watching the kids play, the dogs running after the balls and an occasional runner.

I have no idea what is going on. I think I know what's going on. It's groundhog day. Or whatever it's called. I am repeating this day, because I died. I died twice. So if I survive, maybe it will stop. That's probably how it goes. So all I have to do is survive.

While I was having an internal debate with myself I noticed a man in the corner of my eyes. He was hiding behind a tree and watching me. I stared at him and he turned around and walked away. I wanted to say that it was just my imagination but I couldn't risk it. I quickly started walking back to my apartment. At the entrance I saw Bill. Since I was quite sure he pushed me before, I was wary of him and avoided his eyes.

"Heya neighbor. How are you doing? Skipping work today?" I nodded and added.

"Not feeling well today, so I'm just going to go back to sleep." But he blocked me from going inside the complex. That forced me to look into his eyes. I gasped a little when I saw his eyes, my hands covering my mouth in shock. His eyes were black. No iris, no pupil, just pure black eyes.

"Are you sure you are ok? I can make you tea or soup?" He smiled but it seemed fake. I swallowed and said.

"Yeah you are right, I'm just going to go to the doctor and get myself checked out." I turned around and walked to my car. He didn't follow me. I locked myself in the car and hyperventilated. What the fuck was that?!? Why does my neighbour have black eyes!?!

He was still staring at me, so I started the car and drove away. I drove mindlessly around the block, making sure to be extra careful. When I was waiting for the green light I noticed a black dog following me. Or what I thought was a black dog. As it got closer it became more and more clear it was definitely not a dog. It was bigger and skinnier, with long legs and no tail. Face was too short and it almost looked human. Car behind me honked and scared the shit out of me. The light finally turned green. I drove away to the biggest store around and parked a car. Parking lot has to be safe. I was watching the mirrors closely and that's when I noticed the black thing again. It was definitely following me.

I started the car and drove away. I decided to drive all the way to my parents, who lived an hour away. I merged safely and drove behind a truck. I put on some music and relaxed a bit. That's when I saw the black dog looking creature running alongside my car on the FUCKING highway! It jumped right next to me and I freaked out. I swerved on the next lane… and crashed.

I woke up. This time I was silent. No screaming. No crying. I did not look in the mirror when I walked past it. I threw on a sweater and walked to the coffee shop next to the apartment complex. I ordered coffee and sat on the little table outside. I was… sad. Mad. Bewildered. Numb. I drank the coffee, but I drank too fast and started coughing because it went down the wrong pipe. It almost felt like something was stuck in my throat. I coughed and tried to get it out! People were gathering around me, asking me if I'm ok. I couldn't talk, something was stuck in my throat. Someone grabbed me from behind and pushed on my chest. Finally something went loose in my throat and it came flying out of me. I gasped for air, happy that I could breathe. I looked on the floor wanting to see what made me almost choke and it was a live cockroach. I fell on my butt wanting to get away from a roach who was happily crawling toward me. I wanted to scream but there was no time! I felt the need to throw up and I couldn't stop myself. I rolled over and started throwing up. Roaches were coming out of my mouth as a geyser. Never ending stream of roaches were coming out of me. I couldn't breathe anymore…

I woke up in my bed over and over again. Sometimes it was an accident, sometimes it was a bizarre occurrence and sometimes it was flat out supernatural. So finally I just stopped fighting.

I woke up. I didn't get up. I stayed in bed. My alarm went off. Someone was at the door. Phone rang. But I stayed in bed. It was breakfast time. Lunch time. Finally in the late afternoon I poked from under a blanket. I noticed my neighbor with black eyes, sitting on a chair next to my bed. He looked worse today. His eyes were black, his mouth too big, he had no hair or eyebrows or eyelashes. His skin looks ashen. He said something in a language that I didn't understand as he walked toward me. He grabbed me by my shoulders and licked my face with a tongue too long to belong to any human. I screamed but no one came. I died slowly.

I woke up. I went to the mirror and looked at myself. My body was… broken. My eyes were missing as were some… other body parts. I didn't even get dressed, I ran out of my apartment keys in hand. I slammed into my neighbour Bill, looking more demonic than ever. I screamed and fought, wanting to escape but he overpowered me. He lifted me and took me back to my apartment. It took him a few hours to kill me. He enjoyed every second of it.

I woke up. I went to the mirror. I touched the mirror and pleaded with every entity there is.

Please just let me die.