Imminence

  I sit on a hill, watching the sunset. I loved watching the sunset, especially here, on the outskirts of the city. I loved seeing the colours, seeing the blue sky gradually change into a colourful painting before my very eyes, and then get dimmer and dimmer, until it's pitch black outside. Then, you see nothing, save some lights from the city, and hear nothing except the crickets. I loved seeing the spectacle of the sunset, and feeling the peace and tranquility of the night that immediately followed.
  But this sunset was somewhat different. The colours weren't different, and the sounds weren't different. Everything seemed to be just as normal. So what was different? I thought for a minute. Well, it felt different. There was nothing different visually or aurally. But it felt different. I didn't enjoy it as much. There was this feeling of tension wrapped up inside, an uneasiness, a feeling of looming and imminence. Exactly what was looming and imminent, I didn't know. I really wanted to rush back to the house across the field, hopefully leaving every trace of these awful feelings and suspicions behind me, just as easily as I would the very ground upon which I sat. But at the same time, I felt like I needed to stay. I watched the sunset every day, and I enjoyed it every day. I tried to make myself enjoy it this time, too. I tried to push away the uneasy feelings whereby I was being plagued. I forced myself to sit through the sunset despite those feelings. And every during every second of it, I increasingly became more aware of what an awful choice I was making. But it was a sort of ignorant awareness. I knew and was aware of it, but I had no idea why or how.
  Just as the last trace of crimson sunlight disappeared beneath the horizon, I bolted, full speed. I was scared beyond what I previously had thought possible. I hear something, so I take a quick and hurried glance behind me as I rush across the field. I see a silhouette, and it looks like it's moving. I take one more look. It still appears to be moving, but also seems to be at the same distance now as it was before. Was it following me? Horrified by the thought, I raced even harder across the field. I can sense the silhouette, whatever it is, getting closer.
  As I finally reach the house I can sense it almost right next to me. I run, terrified, to the door. I hurriedly start fumbling around in my pockets for my keys, and -

  I wake up. I'm in my own bed, safe and sound. It was a dream. A stupid nightmare. I lay in my bed, somewhat in shock. None of it ever happened. I can get on with my day, my week, my life. I look out my bedroom window. It's a beautiful, sunny day, and the sky is clear as can be. I slowly get up out of the bed, get dressed, and start down the stairs to get breakfast, and as I do, I hear talking.
   "Who's there?", I call.
  Outside the front window there's a crowd of people talking in a circle. They look concerned.
  I open the door, step outside, and approach them.
  "Is there something I can do for you all?"
  Some in the circle turn towards me, surprised.
  "Do you live in this house?", asked one, pointing to my house.
  "Yes..", I answered, puzzled by the odd question.
  "Do you happen to know this person?", he asks, now pointing towards the inside of the circle.
I weave my way through the rather thick group of people until I reach the center. There I see a figure on the ground, motionless, lifeless, and on its stomach. It was a corpse. I cautiously, and slowly turn it over, until I see its face.
My face.
My dead body.