Thick fog had settled on the dark, winding mountain road. I was driving cautiously as I could, white-knuckles gripping the steering wheel and my boot barely pressing down on the gas pedal. 

The further I drove, the higher and narrower the road became, increasing the stress and anxiety in the air. But, I couldn’t stop. There wasn’t anywhere to pull over. Worse, the road was beginning to tilt downward to my left and icy snow began to lash at the windshield. If gravity got the best of my truck, I would be at the mercy of the cliffs, for there were no guardrails or trees to catch my fall. 

Suddenly, a great gust of wind came from my right, strong enough to cause my truck to fishtail side-to-side on the wet, icy road. My mind went blank as my out-of-control truck headed for the cliffs to my left and nose-dived down the cliffside.

Just a second later, the truck crashed hood-first into deep water below and sank like a rock through the infinitely deep and dark waters. Water gushed through the air vents and doors of my Xterra as it turtled, filling the cabin with extreme speed. I reached to grab the hunting knife I keep in my center console. But, I couldn’t find it. So, I fought through the water to find the seatbelt release, but it too was impossible to find. Soon, there was intense pressure on my chest and head as complete darkness enveloped me. And when instinct forced me to open my mouth in a desperate attempt to breathe. 

I woke up, gasping for air and reaching towards the popcorn ceiling. I was safe and sound in bed, slivers of morning light shining through the curtains. The pressure I felt in my night terror was gone. But, I was soaked in freezing sweat, and I was shivering intensely. I checked the time. I had a few hours before class began. Plenty of time to regain control of myself and shower off the night sweats.